Jay Leno, America's late night leader for nearly two decades as host of the #1 rated "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,' has announced he will perform a benefit for Mississippians impacted by the Gulf oil spill.

Stand Up for the Gulf Coast: A Special Evening with Jay Leno to Benefit the Gulf Coast Community Foundation will take place Saturday, August 21 at 8 p.m. in the Beau Rivage Theatre. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s Mississippi Oil Spill Recovery Fund, established to benefit and support nonprofit organizations working to help Mississippi Gulf Coast communities, individuals and wildlife impacted by the oil spill. The fund not only provides emergency grants to nonprofit organizations helping the victims of the oil spill, but it helps address the long-term economic, environmental, cultural effects of the disaster and strengthen coastal communities against future environmental catastrophes by investing in solutions.

"It's great to be able to do shows like this," said Mr. Leno. "We did it for flood victims in Iowa; we did it for auto workers in Detroit; we did it for victims of Katrina and others. We tell a few jokes and help out people."

Tickets for the benefit are $40, $80 and $150 each, plus tax. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Beau Rivage Ticket Office at (888) 566-7469 or visiting www.beaurivage.com or www.ticketmaster.com. The $150 tickets include an exclusive Jay Leno meet & greet reception with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails and are only available for purchase through the Beau Rivage Ticket Office at (888) 566-7469. Beau Rivage is extending a special Jay Leno Benefit room rate for guests who book before August 14. For hotel reservations, call (888) 767-5687 and mention offer code "Leno show."

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, named one of the top 100 hotels in the continental United States and Canada by Travel + Leisure, is located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The resort features 1,740 elegantly appointed guest rooms and suites, 10 restaurants, four nightclubs and bars, a 1,550-seat theatre, an upscale shopping promenade, a world-class spa & salon and Fallen Oak, a Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course. Beau Rivage is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International, one of the world's leading global hospitality companies.

For those unable to attend the benefit but interested in making a donation to the Mississippi Oil Spill Recovery Fund, please visit www.mgccf.org or call (228) 897-4841.