B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 29 one of South Georgia’s premier events featuring political leaders, entertainers, and sports figures. The idea of the dinner came after Georgia Christian board members Jon Sykes and Ryan Warren attended a fundraising dinner at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama. “We were looking for a fundraising idea,” said Warren, who has served on the Georgia Christian board for 12 years. “Jim Lovell from Apollo 13 was the guest speaker, and the room was packed with more than 2,000 people. It was overwhelming.” On the trip home, Sykes and Warren began discussing the possibility of a speaker-focused dinner as a fundraiser for Georgia Christian. “Jon is an alumnus of Faulkner and he reached out to them for information. They have been extremely helpful,” Warren said. “We were looking for a good solid fundraiser and thought this could be something that we could grow.” Starting with Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward in 2008 and NBA player Tim McCormick in 2009, the dinners have grown in attendance each year. After moving the dinner to Valdosta State University’s Student Union Ballroom, the notoriety of the guest speakers continued to increase. The following two years included speakers Dale Murphy, former Atlanta Braves player, and Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and Fox News host. “When Governor Huckabee came to speak, his radio show had become very popular and he had already been in a primary for president,” said Dr. Brad Lawson, Georgia Christian president. “This is when people in this area really started paying attention to the dinner.” Not to disappoint, the following year the benefit dinner featured former First Lady Laura W. Bush. The sold-out event made $150,000 for Georgia Christian. “Mrs. Bush was wonderful and very gracious,” Lawson said. “She even came out to the school and read to the children in the library.” The following year, former Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback and four-time Super Bowl winner Terry Bradshaw was the featured speaker. Lawson said Bradshaw provided a sports theme that coincided with Georgia Christian’s launch of its new football program, which had not been in existence since the 1960s. In 2014, as Georgia Christian was celebrating its 100th anniversary, George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States, was selected as the guest speaker for the seventh annual benefit dinner. B U S I N E S S + C U LT U R E 29 PHOTO CONTRIBUTED Georgia Christian student ambassadors are pictured with George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States, who was guest speaker at the school’s 2014 annual benefit dinner.