Churches in Painesville Township, Chardon to host Night to Shine events for people with special needs

Feb. 8—Churches and community members in Painesville Township and Chardon are preparing to host Night to Shine events on Feb. 10, welcoming people with special needs to an annual prom sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.

This will be Painesville Baptist Church's seventh year hosting the event, noted lead pastor Rev. Stoney Drain, who added that Night to Shine dances are held in every state and about 17 countries.

"The goal of it is, every guy and girl that comes, they're kings and queens," he said.

Meanwhile, Rev. Jody Baker at Chardon United Methodist Church noted that this is his church's first Night to Shine dance.

Both churches closed registration for the event due to capacity limits. Drain said that 125 people are set to attend in Painesville Township, with registered guests this year ranging from ages 14 to 88.

Baker said that 81 guests will attend in Chardon.

Both pastors noted that a variety of local businesses and organizations are contributing to this year's dances.

According to Drain, guests at Painesville Baptist Church will arrive in a limousine provided by Shima Limousine. Beauticians from Jenniffer and Co. will work on guests' hair and makeup, while Linda Terdan will take formal photos. Aladdin Rents and All About You Entertainment will also contribute, as will Disney princesses.

Refreshments will be provided by Glenda's Pizza Depot, Bada Bing Pizza, Fire and Ice, T&T Bakery and Deli, Zapitelli's and the Painesville Domino's and Papa John's locations.

Drain added that Lake Erie College and Perry High School will send student volunteers to help with the dance, including serving as the "buddies" that accompany each guest. Riverside High School will provide parking for the more than 220 expected volunteers, while the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities/Deepwood has helped with registration and will provide support at the dance as well.

Cleveland Clinic and Lake County Sheriff's Office will also contribute to the event, he said, with the clinic providing the medical staff required for the dance.

"It's just incredible," Drain said of the local partnerships.

A support letter for the event noted that it will also include a red carpet, corsages, boutonnieres, shoeshines, a sensory room and a respite room. Every guest will be honored as a prom king or queen.

"There's a giant balloon drop of 1,000 balloons," Drain said. "They all dress up in their finest, so they've got their prom dresses on, and there's folks in wheelchairs, and there's folks with all different types of needs from all different levels."

Baker said that Chardon United Methodist Church has partnered with nearby St. Mary's Catholic Parish for parking, while around 170 volunteers were set to contribute as of Feb. 6.

"It grows every day with the volunteers," he said. "It's just been an amazing response."

Baker also noted that city officials have provided support, including the police and fire chiefs.

"I was just really thankful the city of Chardon stepped up and partnered with us, just that they saw this as something that's encouraging for the whole city," he said.

Toward the end of the event, Drain noted that former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow will deliver a video address to guests.

He first learned about Night to Shine when he saw another church host the event in 2016.

"I just saw the excitement in the eyes of those with special needs, and it just gave them so much happiness," Drain said, adding that it was "just something that I wanted to bring up here, and we never had it in Lake County."

Painesville Baptist Church has hosted the event since 2017, though for two years it delivered gift bags to homes instead due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The theme of our church has always been love God, love one another and serve the community, and that's the goal, is that we do that in this community," Drain said.

Baker noted that he had helped with Night to Shine dances in Warren for five years before coming to Chardon.

"Since I moved to this church here recently, I wanted to kind of start up here, and everyone was willing to dive in and help do that," he said.

"Our main goal is to show the special needs community that we care about them, them and their families, and we just want to show them that we want to be there for them and also to include as many people as possible, that we're not alone, we're all there for each other," Baker added.

Night to Shine is described on the website for the Tim Tebow Foundation as "an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God's love, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older."

More than 600 Night to Shine dances will be held around the world on Feb. 10, according to an event map on the Tim Tebow Foundation website. More information, including details about a virtual option, can be found at timtebowfoundation.org/night-to-shine-2023/.