Night to Shine attendees are given the red carpet treatment during last year’s prom event held at Cartecay Baptist Church.
A prom for people with disabilities and special needs will soon shift to a new location, while remaining under the same direction of Cartecay Baptist Church.
The Night to Shine event will take place for the first time at Victory Christian Center (VCC) Friday, Feb 9, from 6-9 p.m. Cartecay Baptist will partner with Autumn Ridge Community Church and VCC to present the event at the bigger location.
Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine proms are held in hundreds of churches across the U.S. and internationally each year.
Cartecay Baptist presented Gilmer’s first Night to Shine in 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It was held as an online event the next two years before returning to a live setting, the church’s fellowship hall, last year.
“We had about 40 participants and 40 buddies, as well as all the other volunteers who attended,” said Chad Hall, Cartecay Baptist pastor.
Night to Shine is free to attend and open to anyone at least age 14 with disabilities or special needs, including teens and adults, Hall confirmed.
“We’ve had folks (from 14) to 60 years old, participate,” he added.
The purpose of Night to Shine is to provide a full prom experience for those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy one. Each promgoer is partnered with a “buddy,” who acts as their chaperone during the event, Hall noted.
“They get the red carpet treatment There’s a DJ, karaoke, photographers, a dance floor and a full catered sit down meal. We also have a limo to take them around the parking lot, which they love,” he added. “There will also be a respite room for any parents and caregivers who attend. A sit down meal will be provided for them, as well.”
The enthusiastic response to past events is a reason that a bigger location was needed, Hall noted.
“We’ve kind of been stacked like sardines, but there will be plenty of space this year. I would love to see us have up to 75 participants,” he added.
The Cartecay church funds the event, while the Tim Tebow Foundation, an outreach nonprofit started by the former NFL quarterback and Major League Baseball player, provides logistical guidance and the Night to Shine name.
“We raise the money (for this event) ourselves, which means we do need financial support,” Hall said. “If there are any local businesses, civic organizations or individuals who would like to make a donation, they can just call Cartecay Baptist Church, and we can help them with that.”
The participation of volunteers and buddy chaperones also helps the event to be successful, Hall noted.
“It’s not just a Cartecay Baptist thing. It’s a community event, and other folks can volunteer, too. The buddies come from all over. They are anybody who has a heart for it,” he added.
Volunteers and buddies must be at least 18 years old and first pass a background check, Hall noted.
Advance registration is required for those attending or volunteering at the event. The deadline for registration is a week before the event date, Hall noted.
“Participants and volunteers can all register by going to our website (CartecayBaptist.com). There’s a button right at the top that says Night to Shine, and they can click on that. Everything they need is right there,” he added.
Anyone interested in attending, volunteering or offering sponsorship for the 2024 Night to Shine can contact Cartecay Baptist Church at 706-635-1090 or chad@cartecaybaptist.com.