In 2014, 19-year-old Austin Dennison broke the stereotype that athletes are all muscle and no heart by taking his great-grandmother Delores Dennison to prom.
Austin, an Eagle Scout and multi-sport athlete, was inspired when he heard about someone taking his grandmother to prom. He remembered that Grandma DD was never able to go to her prom due to financial difficulties, so he decided to change that.
When he asked her if she wanted to accompany him, she hesitated, worried about her health. But Austin reassured her, saying, “I want you.”
The evening was magical. He gave her a pearl necklace and sang “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls. After dinner at their favorite restaurant, they arrived at the prom, where Austin gently led her across the dance floor. He even arranged for Frank Sinatra’s “Delores” to be played—a song her late husband had always sung to her.
The audience gave them a standing ovation, but for Delores, the best part was simply being with her great-grandson. They ended the evening with smiles and headed home shortly after 9 p.m. A simple but unforgettable evening filled with love and respect.