Music, dancing, karaoke, limousine rides and celebration filled the Normal campus of Eastview Christian Church last Friday.
These are elements of your standard prom, but this event was far from standard.
Night to Shine is an international event put on by the Tim Tebow Foundation. It’s a prom themed event held at hundreds of churches with a guest list exclusive to those aged 14 and up who live with a disability.
Eastview’s Night to Shine was organized by Associate Pastor for Student Special Needs Brianne Heimer.
“It’s something that I get emails from parents months prior, of like, ‘This is their favorite night of the year, they talk about this all year long,” Heimer said. “So it's something that we want to make special for our guests and their families.”
The prom is meticulously planned months in advance to ensure the best possible experience.
“We actually start planning this in August,” Heimer said. “So our team meets every other week, and we start in September of getting vendors for food, karaoke, the DJ, the limo rides, the hair and makeup... We do the big stuff first, and then as we get closer, we start doing the details of little things of what does it take to support these individuals.”
For many of the honored guests, ensuring the best possible experience means tailoring different aspects of the night or adding additional support to meet their needs.
“With the red carpet, we have a cheering section, and then if the guests want it quiet, we have them quiet. So, we accommodate for different sensory needs,” Heimer said.
“Autism McLean donates sensory bags, which have headphones, sunglasses and fidget toys. We have a sensory room that they can go to if they just need a break. All these things [give] support and help have a good time throughout the night.”
The event is free with help from the Miracle League of Central Illinois. However, from the volunteer buddies that accompany each honored guest to the various activities they can enjoy, the outpour of support extends far past the members of the church.
“I would say maybe half are from the community, and it might be even more that come out,” Heimer said. “And I feel like that has been the biggest blessing in this event—all the community support. ...A lot of our vendors, like our limo, our food, our DJ, our karaoke guy, they offer these things at a reduced price or for free.”
All of the planning, donations and community support come together for one purpose: giving the honored guests one night to really shine.
For honored guest Kurt Hinely, the highlight of the night was clear.
“My favorite part is the party bus and karaoke,” Hinely said. “And I love dressing up and showing everyone about loving and the love God put in their heart. And it's amazing doing this.”
Honored guest Strauss Walljasper wasn’t just excited about the activities but hanging out with a dear friend, who he said reminds him of one of his favorite characters in Stranger Things.
“I like to spend time with my buddy Will... and I got a song picked out for karaoke,” Walljasper said.
Over 600 Night to Shine proms took place on Friday, and on that night, every one of those guests got their own spotlight.
