by Don Mooney. 2-14-2026
S.O. What! CEO Summer Owens (l) along with S.O. What! board members present a evening of community connections. photo by Don Mooney
Memphis, TN—A reputation in and around Memphis for the past 13-years equipping at risk youth and young adults with innovative skills to overcome life’s challenges, S.O. What’s! calls and the community responds with a community love shower filling The Great Hall and Conference Center promoting self-love, self-care fundraising event to financially further the mission and goals of the S.O. What! Foundation.
From A-Z the Great Hall space was filled with vendors who selflessly provided their talents. Attendee’s were treated to a buffet of self-care services from facials and massages to art and entertainment. photos by Don Mooney
As with many successful organizations such as S.O What! – planning is key. Requiring faithful, committed team players. Many of tonights vendors have met those requirements as members of team S.O. What! pre-Great Hall. Pampered Chef consultant Margaret Rhodes reflects being a self-love advocate for eight of the last nine self-love connections, only missing only one due to illness. “I’ve noticed that even though the venues have gotten bigger and the amount of people that have come to it has gotten bigger, that the feelings and thoughts behind the events are all the same, reflects Rhodes. Its also impacted my business and Summer is interested in us having a good time and its a very worthy cause.”
Artist Deadrick Rogers offered on the spot artistic renderings (l) and 19-year Pampered Chef consultant has been locked in to the self-love events for the past 9-years. photo by Don Mooney
The evenings community efforts provides a medical component as well. A cancer survivor herself, CEO Summers included vendors graciously sharing much needed health information, an element of prevention that has affected her personally. The evenings event also exposed attendee’s to external self-care additives to included updated information in areas of breast cancer, organ replacement, chiropractor and other holistic approaches to health.
Live entertainment provided by local musician William Davenport and comedian Jae Henderson. photo by Don Mooney
The spirit of S.O. What! seems to project a life attitude. Life can be difficult at times. Many whom have overcome difficulties when life shows up seem to always point back, taking a positve approach that can be best summed up, “S.O. What!” and “S.O. NOW What?” Staci Franklin and Summer’s relationship traces back to their tenure with the Memphis Grizzlies. A big supporter of S.O. What! foundation Franklin focuses her contributions as a planner mainly for this event.
photos by Don Mooney
Franklin acknowledges that attitude and values the ability to practically apply it when life shows up. “So-uh, in just overall, with the mission of the foundation, having that S.O. What! attitude that Summer often talks about, I find myself calling on that as life-you know-happens just as you come across obstacles and difficult situations, you have to step back and just say, you know…So what! This happened…now what!” points Franklin.
A loving and caring evening’s 2026 So What! event at Great Hall Conference Center. photos by Don Mooney
Over nine years ago 30 people gathered in Owens living room. A few small business’s, a chef, little food and something to drink. Close family, friends and supporters. Several different venues later that living room can hold over 250 to 300 people comfortably says a lot about the evolution of the event. Memphis has a bright shinning star lighting the community. S.O. WHAT!...NOW WHAT!