A Night to Shine
News
Three years ago the Tim Tebow Foundation launched at Night to Shine, a formal dance for people with special needs. This year First UMC in Sedalia hosted the event for a second time. More than 150,000 volunteers in more than 375 churches around the world served more than 75,000 honored guests simultaneously on one night, Friday, February 10. The 375 host churches represent all 50 states, 11 countries and 28 different denominations and mark an 850 percent growth from year one.
This year alone, the Tim Tebow Foundation contributed more than $3 million in financial grants to assist churches in hosting Night to Shine in their communities. To help offset the annual expense of Night to Shine, TTF has been searching for corporate partners who share the foundation’s heart for people with special needs.
“One of our favorite parts of prom night is watching this movement of celebration and love make its way across the time zones around the globe,” said Erik Dellenback, executive director of the Tim Tebow Foundation.
“The celebration starts at 6 p.m. in the Philippines, and we will watch it move across the world to the moment it ends at 9 p.m. in Hawaii. This year is extra special because we are seeing more and more churches coming together across denominational lines to celebrate these incredible people and share the same message of God’s love and the value and worth of each honored guest.”Night to Shine doesn’t just take place in churches. In fact, many churches are hosting their proms in unique venues such as a baseball stadium, a theme park, a southern plantation and even a former penitentiary. First UMC in Sedalia hosted 100 guests in their celebration center.
Every guest of Night to Shine enters this complimentary event on a red carpet complete with a warm welcome from a friendly crowd and paparazzi. Once inside, guests receive the royal treatment, including hair and makeup stations, shoe shining areas, limousine rides, corsages and boutonnières, a catered dinner, karaoke, prom favors for each honored guest and, of course, a dance floor… all leading up to the moment when each guest is crowned king or queen of the prom.