Benefit Dinner

The Annual Benefit Dinner is one of the highlights of the year for Freed-Hardeman University. The Benefit Dinner provides supporters with an opportunity to not only help bridge the financial gap that many students face with rising tuition costs, but also to hear one of the nation’s leading personalities and entertainers. 

The 2023 Benefit Dinner is set for Friday, December 1, and will feature a pair of NFL greats-turned-commentators, Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms

If you have questions or concerns, please email your thoughts to the Vice President for Community Engagement, Dave Clouse at dclouse@fhu.edu 

Ticket and Sponsorship Information

General Admission Tickets and Sponsorships

The Premier Sponsors Dinner

 

 

Schedule and FAQ

Schedule

Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Previous Benefit Dinner Speakers

 

 

 

 

 1993

 

 Mary Lou Retton

2021

 

Jeff Foxworthy

 

1992

 

Merlin Olsen

2020

 

Gary Sinise

 

1991

 

Willard Scott

2019

 

Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

 

1990

 

Gene Stallings

2018

 

Scott Hamilton

 

1989

 

Jerry Clower

2017

 

Tim Tebow

 

1988

 

Edwin Newman

2016

 

Peyton Manning

 

1987

 

Paul Harvey, Jr.

2015

 

Kent Brantly

 

1986

 

Arkady Shevchenko

2014

 

Ben Carson

 

1985

 

Gerald Ford

2013

 

Laura Bush*

 

1984

 

Howard K. Smith

2012

 

Condoleezza Rice

 

1983

 

Paul B. Faulkner

2011

 

Bob Newhart

 

1982

 

Zig Ziglar

2010

 

George W. Bush

 

1981

 

James A. Lovell

2009

 

Mike Huckabee

 

1980

 

Art Linkletter

2008

 

Tim Conway

 

1979

 

Paul Harvey

2007

 

Tom Brokaw

 

1978

 

Willard Collins

2006

 

Cal Ripken, Jr.

 

1977

 

Ira North

2005

 

Barbara Bush

 

1976

 

Thomas B. Warren

2004

 

Walter Cronkite

 

1975

 

Don Gardner

2003

 

Bill Frist

 

1974

 

Clifton Ganus

2002

 

Regis Philbin

 

1973

 

George Benson

2001

 

Norman Schwarzkopf

 

1972

 

George Bailey

2000

 

George Bush

 

1971

 

Abe Plough

1999

 

James Earl Jones

 

1970

 

Chester H. Lauch

1998

 

Elizabeth Dole

 

1969

 

James O. Baird

1997

 

Fred Thompson

 

1968

 

Ira North

1996

 

Sam Donaldson

 

1967

 

Jimmy Allen

1995

 

Archie Manning

 

1966

 

V.P. Black

1994

 

Tom Landry

 

1965

 

Jim Bill McInteer

 

* Laura Bush was unable to attend due to winter weather.