Freed-Hardeman
University’s annual benefit dinner
Friday night, Dec. 6. 2019, is on track to break another fund-raising record,
according to Dave Clouse, vice president for community engagement. Tickets sold
and funds raised have already exceeded those of last year, he said. Proceeds
from the dinner help to fund scholarships at FHU.
Nevertheless,
tickets and sponsorships are still available to hear NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt,
Jr. speak at the event. The “speech,” however, will not be a traditional one.
Instead, FHU president David R. Shannon will engage Earnhardt in conversation
about his career, championships and the concussions he has
sustained.
Earnhardt is a
third-generation driver in the first-family of NASCAR racing. While his innate
ability behind the wheel comes from his Earnhardt DNA,
his competitive driving style and business savvy are all his own. His
common-sense charisma and flair for originality have made him one of the most
popular figures in sports. Race fans have selected him a record 14 consecutive
times as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. His appeal, however, is not limited to
race fans, as Earnhardt has appeared on Harris Interactive’s annual survey of America’s
Top 10 Favorite Athletes.
Special features
to acknowledge FHU’s 150th anniversary will also be a part of the program. In
addition to a video prepared especially for the evening, a chorus comprised of
FHU students, alumni and friends from several states and various decades will
present a program representative of music throughout FHU’s history.
Prior to the
program in Loyd Auditorium, guests will be treated to a “completely new dining
experience,” Clouse said.
FHU’s annual
benefit dinner is typically the state’s largest single-night fundraiser. For
the past 19 years, it has generated more than $1 million annually to help
students attend FHU. Forever Communications is the premier media sponsor for
the event. Other sponsorships begin at $600. To learn more about purchasing
tickets or becoming a sponsor, one may go to fhu.edu/dalejr.
