Church’s Chicken is using National Fried Chicken Day, annually observed on July 6 (that’s Friday), as a reason to spread goodwill. Rather than offering discounts on its signature bird, the San Antonio-founded international chicken chain plans to further a collaboration with a 4-year-old superhero named Austin Perine to help end hunger among the homeless.
A few months ago, Austin — who not only proudly dons a superhero cape, but also goes by “President Austin” — first captured the public’s attention in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where he started the #ShowLove campaign by using his powers and agenda to hand out chicken sandwiches to the local homeless community.
That’s what led Church’s to team up with Austin and his dad, TJ, to feed roughly 250 less fortunate folks in the Atlanta area last week. Their continued partnership allows the trio to increase support for #ShowLove and its fundraising efforts.
“Feeding those people in our communities who often go without is a noble cause, but no one can do it alone,” said Hector Munoz, executive vice president and global chief marketing officer for Church’s, in a statement. “The more people we can get involved with taking the #ShowLove spirit into their own neighborhoods and cities, the greater impact we can make.”
Operating around town in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa and Plant City, Church’s will donate $1 to the campaign every time a story about giving back to the community is shared through social media on Fried Chicken Day using two hashtags: #ShowLove and #ChurchsChicken. Tampa Bay, you’ve got some do-goodery to report, right?
Church’s has committed to donating up to $10,000, and that contribution goes toward food and volunteer coordination for #ShowLove events around the country.
“If he could, Austin would go anywhere and everywhere for the opportunity to hand someone a chicken meal and make them smile,” TJ said. “Whatever any of us do that helps our less-fortunate neighbors makes a real difference in the lives of those people and in the places that we live. That’s what #ShowLove is all about.”
This article appears in Jul 5-12, 2018.