Night to Shine gives 210 people with special needs the royal treatment

Night to Shine is a prom night experience, centered on God's love, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older, according to a provided news release.

The Tim Tebow Foundation sponsored the event in conjunction with Compass church, and this year the foundation will sponsor similar events in 500 churches in the United States and in other countries, said Maureen Hilt, a spokeswoman for the church. Volunteers from an Ascension Parish vintage vehicle club gave rides to prom-goers and their buddies, a group of young people who escorted each guest for the entire night. Once inside, guests received the royal treatment, including corsages and boutonnieres, a catered dinner, karaoke, prom favors for each honored guest, a Respite Room for parents and caretakers and a dance floor, all leading up to the moment when each guest was crowned king or queen of the prom. The joy of the night will not wear off for a long time.

The event was A Night to Shine, and it happened Friday night, February 9, at Gulf Breeze's Community Life Church for the second year in a row. "We just want to show them that God loves them, and we love them and we want to have a special, awesome night for them". Many of those decorations and gifts were made locally by Shindigz, a worldwide supplier to the Tim Tebow Foundation for the Night to Shine.