A Night to Shine

By Grace Bauer

Individuals with special needs walked down the red carpet at what was, for most, the only prom they ever experienced.

Almost 100 adults and young people with varying physical and developmental disabilities attended Night to Shine at Western Secondary School on Feb. 10. The event was hosted by the Gathering Church Windsor but was headed up by the Tim Tebow Foundation which hosted over 350 Night to Shine events in 50 states and 11 countries. This year is the first time Canada made it onto that list.

Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow founded The Tim Tebow Foundation “to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need,” according to his website. His organization not only sponsors Night to Shine but many other projects as well.

Patty Leno is the pastor’s wife at the Gathering Church and is the head coordinator for the Night to Shine.

“I applied to the Tim Tebow Foundation and they accepted us. Night to Shine only happens through churches because he wants people to know the love of God,” said Leno. “[The event is on] Valentine’s Day weekend because it’s the weekend of love. He said that he wants people to know that God loves them. He created them in His image and that they are created perfectly in His image.”

Leno said they started planning the event late November and have been working very hard with her committee of 14 people and their sub-committees. There were over 150 volunteers at Friday’s event.

“We have a daughter with special needs. My husband was doing some reading one day and he kind of stumbled on an article that Tim Tebow had posted about Night to Shine,” said Leno. “He gathered a few of us together and said ‘what do you think? Do you think we could do this in our church?’ and we said yeah, we could do this. We took it to the church and showed them the video from the Tim Tebow Foundation and immediately 30 people volunteered to be part of it.”

Each one of the honoured guests were paired up with a volunteer to be their “buddy” or date.

Jake Teschke attended the event as one of those dates.

“I go to the Gathering church so I’ve known the Lenos for a long time,” said Teschke. “Patty approached me and asked me to be her daughter’s date and I said I would be honoured.”

Each buddy was given information about their guest and their guest’s disability so their experience could be tailored to them. The volunteers spent the night with their honoured guest, from a short limo ride to the middle of the dance floor.

Organizations like New Beginnings, Christian Horizons and Community Living were contacted about the event several months ago and that is how many of the guests were able to come.

Dominic Vachon attended the event as one of the honoured guests through Christian Horizons and said he had a great time.

“We got king and queen hats. I put it in my room,” said Vachon.

The guests had the option to enjoy some food, dance, get their photo taken and even sing some karaoke. Smiles were seen at every corner and it was clear that it was their “night to shine.”