Beaming smiles from ear to ear were all that could be seen on the faces of honored guests and volunteers at this year’s “Night to Shine.”
“Night to Shine,” started by the Tim Tebow Foundation, is a movement and celebratory event to honor people with special needs.
Cartecay Baptist Church and Autumn Ridge Community Church partnered to host the complimentary prom for anyone living with disabilities, ages 14 and older. The Victory Christian Center in Ellijay was transformed into a ballroom for grooving and gathering on Feb. 7.
With pompoms and signs reading “shine bright” in hand, two rows of volunteers applauded and joyfully cheered as guests arrived at the prom, strutting down the red carpet like celebrities.
Guests could pile into an extravagant, white limo for rides around the building. Afterward, they were always welcomed back with just as grand an entrance as on the carpet.
Each of the 25 gussied up, honored guests were assigned a volunteer buddy to accompany them. They could often be seen clasping hands or sharing a warm embrace as they maneuvered through the event.
When asked what her favorite part of “Night to Shine” was while waiting to ride the limo, buddy and SPED teacher Jordan Pinson said, “Seeing their smiles and helping them feel special … Events like this help people realize that they’re just like us.”
Every guest, volunteer and caregiver in attendance got to dine on a plate of chicken, mashed potatoes and vegetables, as well as dessert, catered by Tram Taylor with Mountain Views Artisanal.
Singing and laughter rang through the different areas of the event, especially in the karaoke room. Iconic songs like “Y.M.C.A.” and “Sweet Caroline” were belted through microphones as the words flashed on a screen.
For honored guest Natalie Ledesma, singing karaoke at “Night to Shine” is something she looks forward to every year.
While getting her hair straightened at the beauty station, she expressed that her go-to karaoke song is “I Can Only Imagine,” where she said, “They started crying in there when I was singing it.”
Cosmetology students volunteered to style guests’ hair and apply makeup, with hot tools, hairsprays and powder compacts displayed on a table. A shoeshiner made sure footwear was nicely polished throughout the evening.
Flowing, sparkly dresses glimmered under the lights as honored guests and their buddies twirled and danced to the music. Everyone was up from their seats and on the dance floor when the DJ played classics like “Cupid Shuffle” and “Born to Hand Jive.”
Dapper suit jackets were adorned with boutonnieres, and women were given corsages made of red roses. Shining, bedazzled crowns and tiaras were placed on the guests’ heads by their buddies, declaring them Kings and Queens.
Caregivers in attendance were offered to relax with free massages from volunteer therapists in the area, organized by Heaven Sent Massage, of Ellijay.
“We enjoy helping people,” organizer and massage therapist Linda Stanley voiced. “We’ve had members of our own families who have disabilities, and we know what it means to be a caregiver, so being able to come here and serve is a blessing to us.”
Around 60 volunteers helped make the event happen, as well as donations from various organizations. Dr. Chad Hall, the pastor at Cartecay Baptist Church, expressed how grateful he was for the support from the community.
Hall shared that one unforgettable moment from this year’s “Night to Shine” happened at the end, when one of the honored guests sauntered out of the building after a triumphant night of dancing.
“He’s nonverbal, so when I was telling him bye, he looked at me and blew me a kiss, which just topped the night off for me,” he remarked, sounding content.