She’ll be pretty in pink during this Night to Shine

Smiles were everywhere as guests walked the red carpet into a fairyland complete with twinkling lights on trees and fairies hiding in lanterns and on the walls at the “Night to Shine” prom at Community Baptist Church Friday night.

“We’re a great pair”. The guests were people with special needs from all over the Shenandoah Valley.

The event was sponsored by former Florida Gator and National Football League quarterback Tim Tebow’s foundation. “This year, we had a lot longer to plan”.

“I was waiting for this my whole life”, Ryanne said.

“That’s what you do at dances, isn’t it”, she said T.I..

This year’s Time To Shine was bigger than the inaugural one, which had about 150 guests.

This is the first time her daughter, Christina Rodriguez, is going to a formal dance.

“I have been working with Suzann for 12 years”.

Coordinated by the WestSide Community Church and sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, the Night to Shine was held Friday at the Running Y Ranch and Resort as well as some 375 locations across the country and in 10 other countries.

Tim Tebow, the former NFL football player and current Major League baseball player who helped start the events, has spoken of the need to let people with disabilities know they are loved.

Redeemer, two Loveland churches and another Loveland nonprofit teamed up past year to put on the first Northern Colorado Night to Shine. “Coming into previous year, I had never seen anything put together so that children and adults can come in and not even realize that it’s a prom geared to people just like them”. Avery said at the end of the night, every guest would be crowned prom king or prom queen and hear a message from Tim Tebow about God’s love for them. He said the dance also included 438 buddies, 456 parents, 439 volunteers, 41 mascots and celebrity personalities, 39 police and six firefighters.

“They prefer that’s its done in a church because they like that setting, and that’s what they have found has been the best way to reach these people and make it safe for them and feel like they’re wanted and loved”.

“There’s nothing really like this around here”.

Every participant also received a crown or tiara. Harvest Church hosts the only Night to Shine in Nebraska. The event began with 100 prom-goers having their hair styled and makeup done and their shoes shined at the school. “It’s his first prom, his first tuxedo”, said Nicole Murray as her son Cody Murray had fun inside.