RAYS OF HOPE

The history of night to shine and my involvement

BY C J BUTTS

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to go to a prom and not just feel seen, but valued for who you really are? Well, wonder no more as I take everyone on a journey that will change not only your perspective on the event, but also disability. First, let me give you some perspective. 1:6 people worldwide live with some form of disability. That is roughly 1.3 billion people or 16 percent of the population of the world. Now imagine a foundation or charity whose mission is to turn that on its head and give those people a night that they will never forget.

The event in question is called Night to Shine or NTS for short. Night to Shine was established in 2014 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of The Tim Tebow Foundation. However, the event did not actually debut until the following year on Friday, February 13, 2015. This event’s origin can be traced back to a conversation that Tim Tebow, a former professional quarterback currently a faith based motivational speaker and Erik Dellenback, a former Liaison for Faith and Community at the Executive Office of Governor DeSantos had about the concept of a prom for the disabled community. The first Night to Shine Prom that was held in 2015 saw 44 churches and 7,000 guests. After the success of the debut event, it grew from just a simple concept into a worldwide phenomenon.

How big of a phenomenon did Night to Shine grow to be? Well, as of 2024 Night to Shine now recognizes more than 80,000 people in the disabled community. Night to Shine has a focus centered on God’s love for everyone. By 2019, the first year that I attended Night to Shine, it has expanded to an incredible level, how incredible? Well, think about this. In 2019, Night to Shine had expanded to over 650 churches across all 50 United States and 24 countries. However, by 2024 the initiative had made a bigger impact. In February 2024, Night to Shine had expanded to 720 churches over 56 countries to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. However, Night to Shine is more than just a prom. There is also the Shine On initiative. In 2018, the TTF launched Shine On, which is a year-round ministry. It provides resources and a community for families affected by disabilities, extending the impact of Night to Shine beyond a single evening.

The first Night to Shine that I was involved in took place on February 7th, 2019, at that time, it took place at Warren Woods Baptist Church in Warren Michigan. Even though the location has changed to Immanuel Lutheran Church, here is what a typical evening at Night to Shine looks like. When you arrive, each participant is assigned a vetted adult “buddy”. Your buddy will help you navigate through the evening and provide assistance if needed. Next, it’s a strut down the red carpet to the entrance song of your choice. Your name is announced, and pictures are taken. Wait, it gets better. The food is fantastic. They have chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, a roll and dessert. Sometimes, it changes, but that is what they usually have. Before and after dinner there is a spot in the church where you can get your shoes shined and look sharp for the rest of the night ahead. The guests can also expect limo rides around the entire building. There is dancing as well, and over the past four years, the music has been incredible. It is like there was not a bad song, and for the people who love singing like me, there was another room dedicated to karaoke. The song choices there were phenomenal as well, and how can I leave the parents and caregivers out of the equation. There was even a dedicated space for them to relax, they had performers, and the food was the same for the parents and caregivers as it was for the honored guests.

At the end THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND himself, Tim Tebow gives a videotaped heartfelt message of how loved we are, not just to God, but to him and the volunteers as well, as he leads off the crowning of the kings and queens of the prom. On the way out everyone is given a swag bag with all kinds of cool items and memories.

Night To Shine is more than just dancing and food. Sometimes you might make new friends, like I did. At my first Night to Shine, I had only one goal, to have fun. Since it was my first Night to Shine, I had no idea that I was going to do all the things that I had mentioned, but I did. However, my biggest surprise came when I was dancing and I saw a woman all by herself, her name was Shannon Szymanski. I was afraid to introduce myself because I was not sure if we would be friends or not, but, in the end, we did, and we have been friends to this very day.

If you or a loved one would like to have as much fun as I do, I highly recommend that you check out The Tim Tebow Foundation’s website: https://timtebowfoundation.org/nightto-shine and sign up. The is a map within the link that shows what churches by state participate. Once you go to your first Night to Shine, I guarantee you will want to come back, like I do, because Night to Shine is more than just about the food and dancing, it is about the memories and friendships that you foster along the way, like I did.