By Debbie Adams
The Tim Tebow Foundation sponsored the first “Night to Shine” event in 2015 as a way to celebrate individuals living with disabilities through a complete prom experience for those with special needs ages 14 and older.
The event has now expanded to include 46 countries around the world with events hosted by 623 churches assisted by thousands of volunteers. February 10 was chosen as “Night to Shine” for 2023.
“It’s an effort to make the world a place where all people are valued and honored for their God-given worth,” Christian athlete and Foundation founder Tim Tebow has said.
The Roanoke Valley “Night to Shine” was sponsored this year by Vinton’s Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church, Bonsack Baptist, North Roanoke Baptist, Parkway Church on the Mountain, and Fellowship Community Church in Salem where the festivities were held.
“Night to Shine” events not only include dancing, but a dinner for guests prior to the prom. Each special needs guest is encouraged to bring a “buddy” for the evening—a friend, a parent, a caregiver—or one is invited to accompany each of them.
This year’s event began mid-afternoon with volunteers assisting with hair styling, shoe shining, make-up and nails. In fact, the event began several months earlier when host churches collected 100s of prom dresses and suits and then distributed them at Bonsack Baptist during an event in early January.
As they arrived on Feb. 10, guests walked the red carpet to music, applause, and cheers. Activities leading up to dinner and the dance included a game room, karaoke, professional photos, and dance instruction. Several companies contributed limousine rides around the parking lot at the church.
Among the five churches sponsoring “Night to Shine,” Thrasher’s role again this year was meal preparation.
“Thrasher has once again been offered the privilege of preparing and serving dinner to this event for special needs adults,” said Bonnie Jones of Thrasher, who organized the meal, which is paid for by the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Jones and her team of volunteers arrived at Thrasher before 8 a.m. the morning of the event for food prep and then headed to Salem to finalize the meal. She says the group prepared about 640 meals using 210 pounds of marinated chicken breasts, 30 giant cans of green beans, and 16 large pans of mashed potatoes. Plus “over 1000 pieces of cake—all very generously donated by folks from Thrasher,” Jones said. “We have enough cake leftover to serve the next two weeks of Wednesday night suppers.”
The dining room was decked out with tablecloths and flowers. Volunteer waiters and waitresses, dressed in black and white, who delivered plated meals and drinks individually to each guest, came from many different churches.
This year at Fellowship Community there were two dinner seatings to accommodate the huge crowd of guests (368) along with their 368 buddies. The previous record was 311 guests in 2020—pre-Covid. Night to Shine was a Zoom event during the pandemic years; this was their first year back in-person.
Dancing began around 6 p.m. with the crowning of all guests as prom kings and queens with tiaras and crowns during the evening.
The annual event is completely free for all guests, funded by donations, fundraisers, grants, and businesses donating time and resources.
According to Tebow, “’Night to Shine’ is dedicated to giving individuals with disabilities a night where they can shine and know that God loves them for who they are.”
