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300+ attend sixth annual Home School Prom hosted by two Jacksonville restaurants
June 20, 2024
Prom provides way for restaurants to show care to community, create fun
In 2017, Chick-fil-A Middleburg and Oakleaf Town Center Owner-Operator Joe Mayo met with his team to think about what they could do differently to create fun in their community.
Joe, who’s been an Operator in Jacksonville, Florida since 2003, and his wife, Tabitha, thought about the many home school students who have dined and worked in his restaurants.
“You always look for opportunities to serve and you look for gaps. And with the home school community we felt like there was a need for a prom and that led to this event,” Joe said.
An opportunity to serve
Last month, the two restaurants hosted the sixth annual Home School Prom, attended by just over 300 students from across the State of Florida – and even two out-of-state attendees.
“Being a home school mom, you want your kids to have all the opportunities that other kids have. Growing up, I had a wonderful prom and I wanted that for my children, but I wasn’t familiar with anyone that did it,” said Heather Kusmirek. “So thankfully, I went online and discovered the Chick-fil-A prom.”
Her children, Ambriel and Azariah, have attended the Home School Prom in the past. Last year, Ambriel had the opportunity to meet two of her best friends, also home schooled, in person at the prom for the first time.
The three from different parts of the East Coast became friends while serving as online summer tutors. Ambriel, who’d attended prom before, suggested the three meet there.
“It’s so great to see people that we know and dress up,” Ambriel said. She and Azariah have also attended winter formal, which was created by the restaurants off the success of the Home School Prom.
The ultimate prom experience
In addition to a night of dancing, photo booths and crowning a king and queen, this prom’s menu is highly popular.
Prom goers are treated to a dinner of Original Chicken Sandwiches, Nuggets, Waffle Potato Chips, Fruit Cups, Cool Wraps, Mac & Cheese, Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Chocolate Fudge Brownies and a choice of bottled tea or lemonade.
To honor this year’s graduating seniors, each was given a gift card for a Chick-fil-A meal. It’s a way to recognize them for their accomplishments, which can be difficult without a graduation ceremony.
“When it’s time for students to go home, we send them off with a fond farewell,” Joe said. “My team lines up at the doors to give students goodie bags with Chocolate Chunk Cookies, T-shirts and keychains, among other things. Everyone in my restaurant asks if they can work the Home School Prom.”
The restaurant has some Team Members who are home schooled and have attended the Home School prom. They’ve also hired Team Members who learned about Chick-fil-A as a result of attending the prom, like Paisley Carlson.
Paisley saw advertisements for the prom in-restaurant her senior year and attended with her sister and cousins. She’s now worked in the restaurant for more than a year.
Prom provides way for restaurants to show care to community, create fun
In 2017, Chick-fil-A Middleburg and Oakleaf Town Center Owner-Operator Joe Mayo met with his team to think about what they could do differently to create fun in their community.
Joe, who’s been an Operator in Jacksonville, Florida since 2003, and his wife, Tabitha, thought about the many home school students who have dined and worked in his restaurants.
“You always look for opportunities to serve and you look for gaps. And with the home school community we felt like there was a need for a prom and that led to this event,” Joe said.
An opportunity to serve
Last month, the two restaurants hosted the sixth annual Home School Prom, attended by just over 300 students from across the State of Florida – and even two out-of-state attendees.
“Being a home school mom, you want your kids to have all the opportunities that other kids have. Growing up, I had a wonderful prom and I wanted that for my children, but I wasn’t familiar with anyone that did it,” said Heather Kusmirek. “So thankfully, I went online and discovered the Chick-fil-A prom.”
Her children, Ambriel and Azariah, have attended the Home School Prom in the past. Last year, Ambriel had the opportunity to meet two of her best friends, also home schooled, in person at the prom for the first time.
The three from different parts of the East Coast became friends while serving as online summer tutors. Ambriel, who’d attended prom before, suggested the three meet there.
“It’s so great to see people that we know and dress up,” Ambriel said. She and Azariah have also attended winter formal, which was created by the restaurants off the success of the Home School Prom.
The ultimate prom experience
In addition to a night of dancing, photo booths and crowning a king and queen, this prom’s menu is highly popular.
Prom goers are treated to a dinner of Original Chicken Sandwiches, Nuggets, Waffle Potato Chips, Fruit Cups, Cool Wraps, Mac & Cheese, Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Chocolate Fudge Brownies and a choice of bottled tea or lemonade.
To honor this year’s graduating seniors, each was given a gift card for a Chick-fil-A meal. It’s a way to recognize them for their accomplishments, which can be difficult without a graduation ceremony.
“When it’s time for students to go home, we send them off with a fond farewell,” Joe said. “My team lines up at the doors to give students goodie bags with Chocolate Chunk Cookies, T-shirts and keychains, among other things. Everyone in my restaurant asks if they can work the Home School Prom.”
The restaurant has some Team Members who are home schooled and have attended the Home School prom. They’ve also hired Team Members who learned about Chick-fil-A as a result of attending the prom, like Paisley Carlson.
Paisley saw advertisements for the prom in-restaurant her senior year and attended with her sister and cousins. She’s now worked in the restaurant for more than a year.
