Holmes County Night to Shine another big success

When former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow founded Night to Shine, his hope was to create an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs that was centered on God’s love, a festive atmosphere and creating an evening to remember for all who participate.

In presenting the second annual Holmes County Night to Shine event at Grace Church this February, it was another success, a fairy tale evening filled with glitter, glamour and enough memories to last until the event rolls around again next year.

“We had such a blast,” said Kim Miller of Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities, who has helped create and run the event the past two years. “We actually had people asking us if we could do it more than once a year, but we don’t want to take away from how special it has become.”

With so much to prepare, from a barrage of balloons and the red carpet to a pair of limousines, games, the dance hall, dining and the grand finale of crowning each participant as this year’s queen and king, this event is a monumental undertaking requiring the effort of hundreds of volunteers.

Miller said one special relationship the event couldn’t do without is working hand in hand with members at Grace Church in Berlin, where the event takes place.

“Our partnership with Grace has been an ultimate blessing,” Miller said. “There’s no way this would be possible without their help and support, and we have developed such a wonderful relationship with the staff there. They have been incredible.”

The church opens its doors for the event and provides plenty of input and volunteers for this special occasion.

From the moment attendees and their buddies arrive, they are treated like prom royalty. Miller said last year’s experience helped them tweak the facility and made things operate much smoother. This year’s red carpet walk took them through the giant balloon arch along the red carpet, directly into the main auditorium. The registration area was altered from last year, and it all opened up the area for easier access.

While the game area was popular, Miller said the biggest draw this year was the karaoke machine, where participants lined up to take a crack at singing their favorite songs.

“Karaoke was incredible, and it grew so much from last year,” Miller said. “I think more people did that than those who got on the dance floor. It was really neat to see everyone cheering them on as they sang.”

Professional hair stylists and photographers and even a shoeshine booth put an exclamation point on making everything special, and the entire aura of the evening ushered in a variety of different emotions for attendees, buddies, parents and volunteers.

“There were so many smiles and so much laughter, lots of excitement, and some tears because everything was so special,” Miller said. “I don’t even think there is any way I can truly describe the evening. You almost had to be there to experience the pure joy that took place.”

The event organizers even set up a large room for parents, who were able to come in, relax, dine and watch the festivities on streaming. They also got to hear Tebow’s simulcast, but most importantly, they were able to connect with others who share the same daily joys and challenges that accompany caring for people with special needs.

“We had so many parents tell us how grateful they were, not just for that opportunity, but for the entire evening,” Miller said. “It’s important for parents and guardians to connect and share with one another. They can talk to people experiencing the same situations, and it’s encouraging to recognize those connections.”

While Night to Shine takes place in February, it serves as the perfect springboard into March’s National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

The Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities always takes great care in presenting a variety of opportunities to share about all the programs and accomplishments that are taking place there, and in doing so, it serves to reach out to the community, to which Miller said they owe a monumental debt of gratitude.

“We can never thank our community enough for the support they have shown to us, through both the outpouring of donations and the support through volunteering,” Miller said. “They are a key part of what we believe makes our center so incredibly special to those who come here and their families.”

Like last year, Holmes BDD is having participants make reading presentations in second-grade classrooms in East Holmes and West Holmes school districts and local libraries with the book “I Am a Masterpiece” by Mia Armstrong.

Armstrong’s story is about her, a girl who has Down syndrome. The story explores what it is like to live with Down syndrome and provides a reminder that everyone deserves kindness.