White FHU Logo
White FHU Logo
HomeGiveBenefit Dinner

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.

President on Freed-Hardeman

Ticket and Sponsorship Information

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS

PURCHASE TICKETS/SPONSORSHIP

General Admission ($150)

  • 1 Ticket for Dinner & Program
  • Wallace-Gano Dining Hall Dinner Location
  • Balcony Seating

Silver Sponsorship ($600)

  • 2 Tickets for Dinner & Program
  • Brewer Sports Center Main Arena Dinner Location
  • Balcony Seating

Gold Sponsorship ($1,200)

  • 4 Tickets for Dinner and Program
  • Brewer Sports Center Main Arena Dinner Location
  • Floor seating

Diamond Sponsorship ($3,000)

  • 4 Tickets to Dinner and Program
  • Brewer Sports Center Main Arena Dinner Location
  • Floor Seating
  • Photo Pass for Two People

Crystal Sponsorship ($5,000)

  • 8 Tickets to Dinner and Program
  • Brewer Sports Center Main Arena Dinner Location
  • Floor seating
  • Photo Pass for Two People
THE PREMIER SPONSORS DINNER
  • Priority seating for the program in Loyd Auditorium
  • Fast Pass for VIP photo session with Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms
  • Exclusive entertainment

Choose your level:

Platinum ($10,000)

  • 10 Tickets for VIP Dinner & Program
  • Brewer Sports Center Auxiliary Gym Dinner Location
  • 2-Person Photo Fast Pass

Corporate ($20,000)

  • 10 Tickets for VIP Dinner & Program
  • Academic Resource Center Dinner Location
  • 6-Person Photo Fast Pass

Underwriter ($50,000)

  • 10 Tickets for VIP Dinner (Academic Resource Center Dinner Location) & Program
  • 10 Tickets for Sponsors Dinner in Brewer Sports Center Main Arena Dinner Location
  • 6-Person Photo Fast Pass

Naming Sponsor ($100,000)

  • 20 Tickets for VIP Dinner & Program
  • Academic Resource Center Dinner Location
  • 6-Person Photo Fast Pass
  • Special Recognition For Your Organization

Schedule and FAQs

SCHEDULE

3:00pm – 8:00pm – Christmas in the Commons / Merry Market

5:00pm – 7:00pm – Dinner in Various Locations. Refer to your tickets for your specific dinner time.

6:15pm – 7:00pm – Photo Session in Brewer Sports Center (must have photo pass)

7:00pm – Program Begins in Loyd Auditorium

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When will I receive my tickets?

  • Tickets will be mailed mid-October.

Where do I park?

  • You can park in any available spaces around campus.
  • A parking map will be provided in your ticket packet.

What is Christmas in the Commons?

  • Christmas in the Commons is filled with yuletide cheer and ole-timey Christmas spirit.
  • The Merry Market will have a variety of wonderful vendors for Christmas shopping.
  • FHbrew Coffee will be available from the FHU Associates.

What is the Merry Market?

  • The Merry Market is the perfect place to begin your holiday shopping.
  • It will feature a variety of wonderful vendors for Christmas shopping.
  • Also, you can buy bags of FHBrew Coffee from the FHU Associates and further support our students.
  • Conveniently store your purchase at our “bag check” area until after the program.

What time does dinner start?

  • Dinner times differ based on eating location. Please refer to your ticket packet for your location and specific dinner time.

Is there reserved parking?

  • Yes for Platinum sponsors and above. If you have any special needs, you can request that on your ticket order form or you may call 731-989-6017.

What should I wear?

  • Most of our guests dress for business casual or business.

Where is will call located?

  • Brewer Sports Center front desk

Previous Speakers

Previous Benefit Dinner Speakers

2023 Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms

2022 Kurt Warner

2021 Jeff Foxworthy

2020 Gary Sinise

2019 Dale Earnhardt, Jr.

2018 Scott Hamilton

2017 Tim Tebow

2016 Peyton Manning

2015 Kent Brantly

2014 Ben Carson

2013 Laura Bush (Laura Bush was unable to attend due to winter weather.)

2012 Condoleezza Rice

2011 Bob Newhart

2010 George W. Bush

2009 Mike Huckabee

2008 Tim Conway

2007 Tom Brokaw

2006 Cal Ripken, Jr.

2005 Barbara Bush

2004 Walter Cronkite

2003 Bill Frist

2002 Regis Philbin

2001 Norman Schwarzkopf

2000 George Bush

1999 James Earl Jones

1998 Elizabeth Dole

1997 Fred Thompson

1996 Sam Donaldson

1995 Archie Manning

1994 Tom Landry

1993 Mary Lou Retton

1992 Merlin Olsen

1991 Willard Scott

1990 Gene Stallings

1989 Jerry Clower

1988 Edwin Newman

1987 Paul Harvey, Jr.

1986 Arkady Shevchenko

1985 Gerald Ford

1984 Howard K. Smith

1983 Paul B. Faulkner

1982 Zig Ziglar

1981 James A. Lovell

1980 Art Linkletter

1979 Paul Harvey

1978 Willard Collins

1977 Ira North

1976 Thomas B. Warren

1975 Don Gardner

1974 Clifton Ganus

1973 George Benson

1972 George Bailey

1971 Abe Plough

1970 Chester H. Lauch

1969 James O. Baird

1968 Ira North

1967 Jimmy Allen

1966 V.P. Black

1965 Jim Bill McInteer