Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co. CEO Brendan O’Donnell delivered a $70,486 check Tuesday to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, representing complete proceeds from Jay Leno’s four sold-out comedy shows in July.
The donation came from Leno’s July 9-12 performances at the brewery as part of its 2025 Summer Series. Tickets were $125 each.
“We are thrilled with this donation!” said Heather Hole Strout, executive director of the MLK Community Center. “Jay Leno and Newport Craft presented an incredible opportunity for our community to support the MLK, and our community showed up in full force.”
The funds will support the center’s food pantry and mobile food pantry, stock vegetables for the weekly Produce 2 the People program at the center and at Park Holm, Donovan Manor and Oxbow. The money also will sustain wellness programs including free yoga, Tai Chi and cooking classes, and support preschool and summer camp programs.
“Jay gave his time and the talent for four sold-out shows — what a gift to the MLK,” Strout said. “Jay Leno doesn’t just live in Newport — He shows up for Newport! This generosity will help in so many ways. It will help us keep food in our pantry and mobile food pantry and more, stock veggies for our Produce 2 the People weekly veggie giveaway at the Center and offsite at Park Holm, Donovan Manor, and Oxbow, sustain wellness programs like our free yoga and Tai Chi and cooking class, support kids learning and thriving in Preschool and Summer Camp, and on and on. We’re grateful to Brendan O’Donnell for making this happen. Local businesses helping a local nonprofit help local people – that’s what community is all about.”
