Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Dreams come true at 'Night to Shine' event

Cari Hachmann

Special to the Village News

On the night of Feb. 8, North Coast Church in Vista was one of nearly 700 churches around the world to host an unforgettable prom night for people with special needs.

The 2019 Night to Shine event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, welcomed more than 230 guests with special needs aged 14 and older free of charge.

Tebow, a former Florida Gators quarterback and Christian, launched Night to Shine in 2014 as a way to show God’s love to those who are not often celebrated enough.

A Fallbrook mother said it was like a dream come true for her 21-year-old daughter to attend the event as she was never able to at her high school due to her special needs.

Kerri McDaniels is mother to the young woman with autism, mild cerebral palsy and developmental delays. She and her husband heard about ‘Night to Shine’ through the North Coast Church they attend in Fallbrook.

She said Friday’s event was “amazing” and her daughter had a great time. The young woman was especially excited at the chance to wear a favorite dress she wore once before for a Cinderella ballet.

“It was their opportunity to shine and have a night that was special to them,” McDaniels said.

Many dresses and tuxedos were donated for the attendees to wear.

“It was set up to meet everyone’s needs,” said McDaniels.

At the prom, each individual was paired up with an enthusiastic volunteer for the night, while parents got to enjoy a little respite – a private dinner on the church grounds accompanied by jazz music.

The event began at 5 p.m., but guests could come early to get their hair and make up done or shoes shined, all by volunteers who helped make the magic happen that evening. Volunteers ranged from friends and family members to churchgoers and even some local Marines looking sharp in uniform.

All volunteers had to undergo a background check and complete special training for the night.

At 6:30 p.m. the red carpet was rolled out and attendees were cheered on by volunteers dressed like paparazzi and their favorite Disney princesses and comic book heroes as they walked into the church.

Meanwhile, nearly 100,000 other dressed-up guests across the country and globe in places like Mexico, Kenya and New Zealand were sharing similar experiences on the same night.

North Coast Church agreed to be a part of the Night to Shine program as part of a movement to celebrate those who are “differently-abled.”

Those in attendance were pampered with all the royal treatment of a proper prom including corsages and boutonnieres, limousine rides, a catered dinner, karaoke, prom favors and a dance floor with a DJ.

The night glistened to an end when each person was crowned king or queen of the prom.

Parents were able to watch all the fun shake down from a giant screen in a separate church building where they were served an Italian-style dinner.

Aside from a much-needed opportunity to relax, McDaniels said it was also a time to get to know other parents and families who shared the reality of raising a child or adult with special needs.

“A lot of time our days are filled with behavior challenges, doctor appointments, therapy… and there’s just not much time for socialization,” she said. “It was really neat to have the time to not be a caregiver for a while and just enjoy.”

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 02/28/2024 20:57