Donald Trump will deliver the keynote address at the county GOP’s Lincoln-Reagan Gala April 24 at The Country Club at The Highlands. Gage Skidmore The Donald is coming to Chesterfield.

Billionaire businessman, television personality and potential presidential candidate Donald Trump will deliver the keynote address at the Lincoln-Reagan Gala April 24 at The Country Club at The Highlands.

The event is the Chesterfield Republican Committee’s largest annual fundraiser. Proceeds will go to support the county’s GOP candidates during the 2015 election cycle.

“We believe it will be the social event of the season for Virginia Republicans,” said Madelaine Spangler, the committee’s vice chair of special projects, who secured Trump’s commitment to speak at the dinner.

Word of Trump’s appearance has created considerable buzz within the commonwealth’s political class. Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Chesapeake) is among the GOP lawmakers from across Virginia who plan to attend the event.

Republican Dorothy Jaeckle, who is running for a third term on the Board of Supervisors, said last week that she has seen “an unbelievable difference” in the number of people who are interested in attending this year’s dinner because of Trump.

“It’s exciting,” she added. “He’s certainly an interesting character.”

Festivities will begin at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour, during which attendees can bid on silent auction items, followed by dinner and Trump’s keynote address.

According to Donald Williams, chair of the Chesterfield Republican Committee, there were still a few tickets available for sale as of last Thursday. Individual tickets are $100 and can be purchased at LincolnReaganDinner.com.

“Everyone looks forward to hearing Mr. Trump’s thoughts on the economy and entrepreneurship, as well as his observations on the political landscape,” Williams said.

Trump, who originally rose to fame as a real estate developer, was pushed to the brink of financial ruin in the late 1980s by his company’s over-leveraged Atlantic City casino properties.

With help from his creditors, Trump emerged from that crisis mostly unscathed and gradually rebuilt a diverse empire including high-rise office buildings, swanky golf resorts, restaurants, men’s clothing and even a fragrance.

Trump’s profile skyrocketed in 2003 when he became executive producer and host of the NBC reality series “The Apprentice.” The show, which pits aspiring businesspeople in a competition for a job with the Trump organization, has been so successful that Trump sought trademark protection for his catchphrase “You’re fired.”

Trump also has ties to Virginia, having purchased Charlottesville’s Kluge Vineyard in 2011. The 1,000-acre vineyard and estate is home to the Trump Winery.

As the Chesterfield Republican Committee began planning for this year’s Lincoln-Reagan Gala, Spangler reached out to Trump and “got a very quick and positive response,” Williams said.

While Trump has floated the idea of seeking the GOP’s presidential nomination in 2016, Williams noted that he’s coming to Chesterfield to help raise money for local candidates who are running this year.

“I think it’s going to be a very entertaining program,” Williams said. “There’s no question Donald Trump has made a name for himself in business, entertainment and politics. We’re pleased that he has agreed to come and talk about things that interest him.”