Night to Shine
I’m sure that many of you have heard about the Tim Tebow Foundation’s, “Night to Shine” prom. Travis participated in this event twice. Let me just say that this night is quite the event. Many individuals with disabilities do not have the opportunity to experience prom during their high school years.
The foundation’s website can be found at www.timtebowfoundation.org. Per their website, “ The Tim Tebow Foundation has a great passion for people with special needs and in 2014 we launched a “Night to Shine”. The vision was simple…work with churches around the country to provide an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love for people with special needs, ages 14 and older.”
The first prom was in February of 2015. Each year it falls on the Friday before Valentine’s Day. In 2015 the prom was hosted by 44 churches representing 26 states and 3 countries. 15,000 volunteers came together to honor the 7,000 guests.
Six years later, in February, 2020, the prom was hosted by 721 churches representing all 50 states, and 34 countries. 215,000 volunteers came together to serve 110,000 Kings and Queens.
The Tim Tebow Foundation financially supports as many host churches as possible. In 2018, the foundation contributed more than $3.5 million. The host churches also reach out to the local community for support.
The “Night to Shine” prom has also grown in Northern Colorado. The event is a collaboration between five local churches and one services provider agency. In 2020, the Northern Colorado “Night to Shine” hosted over 550 guests with the help of over 1000 volunteers. Each guest is assigned a volunteer companion to keep them company and have dinner with them.
Female guests can sign up to have their hair and makeup done that day at 4:30pm. The event begins at 6pm with each attendee walking the red carpet, complete with welcoming paparazzi. There is a booth for the male guests to have their shoes shined. Each guest receives a corsage or boutonniere. Dinner and dancing is the main event, but there is lots of other fun things to participate in.
There is a karaoke room, silly photo booths, limo rides through the parking lot and professional prom pictures taken. There is also special appearances by superheroes and movie characters. Each participant is crowned as King or Queen by their companion.
One of the years that Travis attended Tim Tebow actually showed up to help the volunteers set up. Unfortunately he had already left before the prom began locally. My understanding is that Tim tries to attend a few each year.
Travis told me that he asked his companion if he could see her again and she said no because she had a boyfriend. That’s my boy! I did share with him that a dance is a good place to meet new friends.
I am glad that Travis had the opportunity to have this experience. And that he is welcome to attend again if he wants to. I am beyond grateful to Tim Tebow for starting and supporting this event. And to the thousands of volunteers that take the time from their personal lives to make this night so special for so many. If your looking for a volunteering opportunity, this could be it!
“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote everyday about the kind of community you want to live in.” - Author Unknown
“Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don’t have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” - Martin Luther King, Jr.
(Sorry. I couldn’t choose just one!)
Travis and his 2018 volunteer companion.
Doesn’t he look handsome? It’s not often that I can get him to cut his hair short and shave his beard!
Travis getting ready to head to “Night to Shine” 2017.
We had to come over and help Travis get spiffed up.