Night to Shine
Going to prom is a rite of passage for most teenagers. Many adults have fond memories of that evening. From the preparation of choosing the perfect attire and beauty choices to dance the night away in an elegant ballroom, it’s a memory of a lifetime. Those with developmental or intellectual challenges often don’t have the opportunity to create such memories. That is until now.
On Friday, February 9, 2018, a contingent of Thrivers donned their glamorous dresses and tuxedos, pinned on their corsages and boutonnieres, and headed for the red carpet entrance at the annual Night to Shine prom event in Uxbridge, MA sponsored by the Valley Chapel. Thanks to participant Kristen Camacho and her family, Thrivers were pampered with pre-prom beauty treatments. Then, for that one night, the 100 guests at the Uxbridge event got to experience first-hand the joy of creating memories that will last forever.
Night to Shine is an annual event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, that takes place on the same night each year, at over 540 churches across 50 states and 16 countries for approximately 90,000 honored guests through the support of 175,000 volunteers. Our Thrivers headed to the Faith Fellowship Church for a night they’ll never forget.
From start to finish the evening was packed with activities. Each participant was assigned a volunteer “buddy” who stayed by their side the entire evening. With a limousine ride, karaoke, a formal dinner, and dancing in the ballroom, there was something for everyone. And the crowning moment of the evening was just that! Volunteers crowned each participant king and queen of the prom. “I will remember this night for a long time! My favorite part was the limousine. It was my first time in one and we even got to have soda during the ride” exclaimed Thriver Brenda Flint. “Words can’t explain how wonderful this evening was for our participants. The volunteers were so thoughtful and attentive. They made everyone feel remarkably special,” observed Thrive Supervisor Patty Durkin. “We can’t wait for next year,” she added.