The 10th annual

benefit dinner for the Jim Friday and Asden Johnson Homes for abused children

has been set for Monday, Nov. 25.

The host for

this year's event is longtime supporter Chip Young, who has opened up

The Barn, a facility on his property in Tyrone that is frequently utilized

for nonprofit events.

Each year's

event has a theme and this year's is a country-western one. Dinner will

be provided compliments of Outback Steakhouse in Peachtree City, and entertainment

will be provided by Mike Culver, known locally as the "Chicken Man."

His unique brand of entertainment broke up audiences at a restaurant in

Fayetteville for 10 years.

"We always

have fun with this event and have been fortunate to have great entertainers

who perform without compensation in support of our mission," said

Jane Gough, development coordinator for the local charity. "Our goal

is to clear $40,000 from this event and I am certain that this community

will come through as it always does."

Speakers for

the evening are Mary Davis, director of the Fayette County Department

of Family and Children's Services, and Shea Lasiter, director of the Friday

and Johnson Homes. They will address the real issues of abuse and neglect

which this group works to eliminate. Lasiter will discuss current activities

and upcoming initiatives for the anger management program, which teaches

abused children better ways to cope than through violence.

The Friday

home in north Fayette County has been operating since 1989 and the Johnson

home in Brooks is four years old. The combined facilities house 16 children

for extended care with four additional beds for emergencies. The majority

of children served are from Fayette County.

For more information

on attending or directions to The Barn, call Gough at 770-716-8420 or

Asden Johnson at 770-461-2388.