Night To Shine to be held in-person this year

Kevin Sutton, The Daily Jeffersonian
·3 min read
Immediately following the crowning of prom kings and queens, confetti is dropped on the crowd to help celebrate during the Night to Shine. The event is a prom for special needs individuals over the age of 14, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and hosted locally by Stop 9 Church of Christ in Byesville.
Immediately following the crowning of prom kings and queens, confetti is dropped on the crowd to help celebrate during the Night to Shine. The event is a prom for special needs individuals over the age of 14, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and hosted locally by Stop 9 Church of Christ in Byesville.
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BYESVILLE − Like many public events that fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic, the local Night to Shine events sponsored by The Stop 9 Church of Christ in Byesville were canceled in 2021 and 2022. However it will return in 2023 and will take place Feb. 10, at The Pritchard-Laughlin Civic Center.

"We are excited once again to have this opportunity to celebrate and honor those in our community who demonstrate love and perseverance in a special way," Stop 9 evangelist Woody Biggs said. "With not being able to have the Night to Shine the last couple of years due to COVID, we are very excited to bring it back this year."

The event was created in 2014 by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Tebow became a household name playing college football at the University of Florida, where he became the first underclassman to win the Heisman Trophy and led his team to two BCS National Championship victories in 2007 and 2009. He was recently inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and played professional football and minor league baseball.

Frank Buckey gets his boutonniere before the 2020 Night to Shine event.
Frank Buckey gets his boutonniere before the 2020 Night to Shine event.

Tebow's greatest contribution is his continued work with his foundation, which aims to "bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need," according to its mission statement.

According to the foundation's web site, the event is centered on God’s love for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. All of the special needs guests receive red carpet treatment and are greeted by paparazzi upon arrival. The night is filled with music, dancing and a crowning ceremony where each guest is crowned king or queen of a Night To Shine.

Night To Shine then launched in 2015 with 44 churches in 26 states and three countries participating. There were more than 15,000 volunteers and 7,000 guests the first year. The event grew in popularity and size over the next five years. In February 2020, 721 churches − all 50 states were represented − and 34 countries participated, with more than 215,000 volunteers honoring 110,000 guests with special needs.

The event came to Guernsey County in 2019 thanks to Jena Miley, a Shenandoah High graduate, said Biggs. She learned of the Night to Shine event while working in Columbus.

Kelsi Thompson and Travis Hunt are ready to dance the night away at the 2020 Night to Shine event. Each guest has a "buddy" with them the entire evening. The buddies have to take a special training class required by the Tim Tebow Foundation for the Night to Shine event.
Kelsi Thompson and Travis Hunt are ready to dance the night away at the 2020 Night to Shine event. Each guest has a "buddy" with them the entire evening. The buddies have to take a special training class required by the Tim Tebow Foundation for the Night to Shine event.

"Jena Miley was the young lady who really wanted to bring the Night to Shine to the local Guernsey/Noble County area," Biggs explained. "She came to us and asked us to sponsor the event, and she offered to do most of the work. It was her brain child and her dream. She deserves all the credit for getting the ball moving and we are so glad she did.

"Unfortunately before she could see the fruits of her labor, she was transferred out of state like two weeks later," Biggs continued, however the church picked up the event.

Guests entering the main ballroom were greeted on a red carpet by "paparazzi," cheering and holding signs as their names were announced to the crowd.
Guests entering the main ballroom were greeted on a red carpet by "paparazzi," cheering and holding signs as their names were announced to the crowd.

"It's just not for kids, it's for anyone age 14 and up with special needs," Biggs offered. "The first year we held it, we had a 93-year-old gentleman as a guest. And he was out there cutting it up out on the dance floor all night long.

"Our numbers have been good. The last time we held the event we had about 160 guests, 160 buddies and around 100 volunteers," Biggs stated. "And I think we are going to at least match those numbers this year."

kstutton1@gannett.com; @KSuttonDJSports

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Night To Shine to be held in-person this year