DATE KNIGHT
Moms and sons make memories at medieval-theme
Chick-fi l-A Memphis rolled out the red carpet for a sold-out crowd of a thousand mothers and sons at the fast-food chain’s first-ever citywide Mother-Son Date Knight at Memphis Pink Palace Museum.
For Rebecca Matthews and sons Jasper and Hampton, the night was extra special.
Matthews and her boys were invited to attend the event by the Southaven Chick-fil-A location. Each of the 12 stores in the Memphis metro area gave away a select number of VIP passes to the event, allowing guests special seating for the evening.
Matthews was selected after it was learned her oldest son, Jasper, has been a LeBonheur patient since he was diagnosed with meningitis as an infant. The illness stole his hearing and left him with some developmental delays.
Just two days before the event, Jasper underwent another procedure to properly fit his cochlear implants. But Matthews says nothing would have stopped Jasper from donning knightly attire and joining the fun.
In addition to the VIP passes, Southaven Chick-fil-A owner/operator Stuart Davidson arranged for Matthews and her costumed sons to arrive in a limo.
“There are so many families struggling with medical worries. We just wanted to create a special evening for one such family, and let them think of nothing but spending time together for just one night,” Davidson said.
Mother-Son Date Knight at the Pink Palace offered Mid-South moms and sons a medieval-themed outing complete with a red-carpet entrance, op- portunities to dress up for keepsake photos, a mother-son dance, arts and crafts and of course, Chick-fil-A dinner. All Pink Palace attractions, including various IMAX and planetarium shows, were included in the ticket price of $35.
A portion of the proceeds from Mother Son Date Knight have been donated to Memphis Athletic Ministries (MAM). Gib Vestal, MAM chairman says the funds will be very helpful as the organization works to serve more than 1,000 boys and girls, ages 8-12.
“This donation will greatly assist MAM as we expand our homework help program for under-resourced youth to all 11 MAM centers this fall,” Vestal said.
Chick-fil-A hosts Mother-Son Date Knight events in its stores on a regular basis, but this was the first time the event was taken to an off-site location. The Memphis area operators successfully pulled off a similar feat with Daddy-Daughter Date Night at the Memphis Zoo last December, and will host the date night for dads and daughters at the zoo again Nov. 21.