Night to Shine, an annual prom event for individuals with special needs, returns this year on February 7, hosted by Stone Memorial Christian Church in Collinsville in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation. The event, which has been held for over a decade, will be held at New College Institute (NCI), offering attendees a night of dancing, entertainment, and celebration.
“In high school, they have proms all the time, but it’s not geared to those who have limitations,” said Senior Minister Tim Wood. The dance floor is designed to be mobility-accessible, ensuring that all attendees can participate. “It started to give an opportunity for those with special needs to have a special night,” added Worship Minister Josue Rodriguez.
The event is carefully tailored to be an enjoyable and accommodating experience. Volunteers work to create a comfortable atmosphere, including a designated sensory room for guests who may need a quieter space. “We have a sensory room for if it gets too busy,” said Rodriguez. The night also includes food, photo booths, and ample dance space for attendees.
Approximately 150 guests are expected to attend this year’s event. Each participant is paired with a buddy to assist them throughout the evening. Local funeral services provide limousines to transport attendees to the venue, adding to the prom experience. Volunteers from the church also handcraft corsages for the guests.
A highlight of the evening is the crowning ceremony, where every guest was named either king or queen and presented with a crown or tiara. Attendees also receive gift bags as keepsakes from the event. The church assists guests in obtaining formal attire to ensure everyone can fully enjoy the evening.
“We start off the night with a red carpet,” said Wood. Upon arrival, attendees are greeted by members of the BETA Club from local schools, who acted as “paparazzi,” cheering them on and taking photos. “It makes them feel real special, and they are strutting as they come down that carpet,” he said.
Wood collaborates with local schools to extend personal invitations to special needs students. “Where we get most of our guests comes from our nursing facilities, a lot of them through Piedmont Community Services. As long as they have special needs, they’re invited,” he said.
The event continues to leave a lasting impact on its guests. Wood shared the story of an elderly attendee who had never attended a prom before. “This 80-plus-year-old lady, as she was getting out of the limousine ride, was smiling so great and said, ‘I never got to go to a prom in my life until now,’” he recalled.
Despite being a church-sponsored event, the music selection consists mainly of secular but family-friendly songs. “Very little of it is Christian-oriented, it’s going to be secular music, but, this is a fun fact—when we do karaoke, Christian music is the most requested music they want to do,” said Wood.
A long-standing tradition at Night to Shine is ending the event with a large conga line set to “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. The line includes both guests and their buddies, totaling around 300 people and serving as a joyful finale to a memorable night.
