海角社区

HENDERSON, Tenn. 鈥� (May 11, 2026) 鈥� 海角社区 is adding a little late-night flair this year as award-winning comedian and television personality Jay Leno headlines its 62nd Annual Benefit Dinner Friday, Dec. 4, 2026. The university鈥檚 premier annual fundraising event brings hundreds of supporters to campus each year for dinner, entertainment and a keynote address from a nationally recognized guest. This year鈥檚 program will also feature an interactive live game show experience as part of the evening鈥檚 entertainment.

Event sponsorships begin at $600, and general admission tickets, which include dinner and admission to Leno鈥檚 keynote speech, are $150. Both sponsorships and tickets are available now at fhu.edu/benefitdinner.

Forever Communications is serving as the premier media sponsor for this year鈥檚 event.

鈥淓ach year, the Benefit Dinner provides an opportunity to celebrate the people and mission that make Freed-Hardeman special while investing in the future of our students,鈥� FHU President-elect Keith Harris said. 鈥淛ay Leno鈥檚 humor and remarkable career in entertainment will make this year鈥檚 event especially memorable, and we look forward to an evening of laughter, fellowship and generous support for student scholarships.鈥�

Leno is best known for his more than two decades as host of NBC鈥檚 top-rated late-night program, 鈥淭he Tonight Show with Jay Leno.鈥� During his tenure, Leno consistently led late-night ratings and became one of the most recognizable personalities in television.

In addition to his television career, Leno hosts and produces 鈥淛ay Leno鈥檚 Garage,鈥� a popular YouTube series featuring automobiles, celebrity guests and mechanical innovations from around the world. The series has earned multiple Emmy Awards and nominations.

Outside of television, Leno remains one of the busiest stand-up comedians in the industry, performing more than 100 live shows annually across the country and internationally. He also participates in numerous charity and corporate events, does voice-overs for animated series, pens children鈥檚 books and writes a monthly column in various automotive magazines.

Throughout his career, Leno has received numerous honors, including Emmy, People鈥檚 Choice and TV Guide Awards, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He and his wife Mavis, an ardent human rights activist, live in Los Angeles, California.

The 海角社区 Benefit Dinner is the university鈥檚 largest annual fundraising event, raising more than $1 million annually for each of the past 25 years. This year, total contributions generated through the event will eclipse $40 million.

The mission of 海角社区 is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. Located in Henderson, Tennessee, FHU offers associate, bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚, specialist and doctoral degrees. More information is available at fhu.edu.