Special needs children are often overlooked and more than likely never get to attend their prom. Tim Tebow and friends put a stop to that on February 13th when he hosted 44 prom nights for 7,000 kids complete with tuxes, dresses and prom kings and queens.
Via People.com
Feb. 13 was prom night for more than 7,000 people with special needs, courtesy of the Tim Tebow Foundation.
The former NFL quarterback’s charity sponsored 44 simultaneous Night to Shine proms in 26 states, as well as locations in Uganda and Kenya. Local churches did much of the organizing, aided by the foundation.
The night had some big surprises.
Tebow, a SEC Network Analyst, first flew to Kernersville, North Carolina, to show up – unannounced – at one of the proms.
After mingling with the crowd for an hour, he flew to Simpsonville, South Carolina, to surprise another group. He escorted kids down the red carpet, posed for pictures, and even shined a few shoes.
For Tebow, the event was more than just glamour and glitter; it was an opportunity to provide a special night for people with special needs – people who often have few opportunities to dress up for a fancy event. Tebow and his team were frequently moved to tears as families recounted their struggles and experiences.
“When you simply spend time together,” Tebow tells PEOPLE, “you can begin to turn statistics into stories.”
As for the business of selecting prom kings and queens, there was no scheming, politicking or voting. Everyone received a crown or tiara. The message was clear: for that night, they were all kings and queens. Unsurprisingly, the attendees were ecstatic to receive their crowns.
“When this project began, we hoped that on this night, the churches would shine, the volunteers would shine, Christ would shine and our guests would feel like kings and queens,” says Erik Dellenback, executive director of the Tim Tebow Foundation. “We believe that’s exactly what happened!”
Read more about Tebow’s organization and his “The Night To Shine” event HERE.
