Their Night to Shine

By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic

Photography: JIM DAVIS | FC

DAVIE | Kings and queens — 98 of them — briefly took over St. Bonaventure Church, as the church and several homes threw a prom for special-needs clients.

Called the Night to Shine, the prom was designed to treat people with Down Syndrome and similar conditions to the music, limos, dancing, photos and other festivities that other youths often take for granted.

"I think everyone had smiles on their faces the whole night," said Diane Grove of Weston, one of the organizers of the prom.

Her husband, Gary, agreed as he opened limo doors for the honorees at the Jan. 11 event. "I feel for these kids. This may be the first time they’ve ever been to a prom."

St. Bonaventure was one of hundreds of churches in several nations to give the royal treatment to special-needs people. The events were coordinated and supported by the Jacksonville-based Tim Tebow Foundation, which aids sick, disadvantaged or disabled children in various ways.

The night began with primping in the church school cafeteria: hair and makeup for girls, shoe shines and boutonnieres for boys. Then the honorees were picked up by limos and driven to the parish center, site of the prom.

As they emerged from the cars, they walked a red carpet flanked with cheering "fans" — seventh- and eighth-graders from St. Bonaventure School — who waved signs saying "You're Amazing" and "God Loves You." Other volunteers flitted around as paparazzi, clicking stills and shooting video.

Inside, each couple passed through an archway of silver balloons in the shape of an immense star, created by St. Bonaventure students. Then they were all crowned kings and queens, and posed for photos. They even got 5x7 prints before leaving that night, courtesy of an on-site printer.

Shining like stars

The guests dined on a buffet of turkey wraps, baked ziti, chicken tenders, fresh fruit and barbecue pork sliders. They also sang in a karaoke room and donned funny hats, feather boas and fake mustaches in a photo booth.

Finally, they danced to numbers like "Y-M-C-A" by The Village People. The DJ also played two special numbers: "Kings and Queens" by Audio Adrenaline and "Shine Like Stars" by Pink Zebra.

But not before a video address from Tim Tebow himself.

"You are having the best night ever because it's all about you," said the former football player, perhaps best known for kneeling prayerfully on playing fields. "I crown you all Queen and King of the Prom, because that's how God sees you."

Father Edmond Prendergast, pastor at St. Bonaventure, added his blessing as well. "We want to thank you for all these special people who take care of these special people all year," he said during his dinnertime prayer.

Along with the 98 promsters, who were paired with "buddy escorts," were parents and volunteers. In all, about 360 people attended, organizers said.

For their part, the young guests reacted mostly with grins and gestures and short comments.

"I'm happy, I feel good," said Miguel Z. (Some of the guest's names are represented by initials out of privacy concerns.)

"I feel all right," Gabriel G. said.

From Peru to New Zealand

Adelfa Boren of Weston was more vocal about her twin sons, David and Michael. "This is a special day. They’ve never been in a room like this."

And Ronnie Loundy, special education teacher at St. Bonaventure, was tuned into the guests' reactions. "Omigod, you can see the excitement in their eyes," she said.

The buddy escorts came from a variety of sources: St. Bonaventure, area high schools, and some in the Best Buddies organization.

"It's amazing," said Juliet Rincon, who was using the occasion for service hours at Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches. "It's beautiful how they get an opportunity to go to a prom."

Night to Shine is one of several projects by the Tebow Foundation, which was formed in January 2010. Other wings muster volunteers in community organizations, support orphans and children with life-threatening illnesses, and raise funds to build a hospital in the Philippines.

The prom has mushroomed since its first year in 2015, according to Tebow Foundation officials. That first event saw 44 churches host proms for 7,000 special-needs guests. This year, they report, the total was 375 churches in 11 countries hosting more than 75,000 guests — in lands as far flung as Peru, Albania, Uganda and New Zealand. 

Night to Shine came to St. Bonaventure after Diane Grove saw a TV report on the Tebow Foundation. She found the foundation's website, then approached Father Prendergast. His terse reaction: "Let's do it."

He gave a longer explanation in an interview, saying St. Bonaventure has run artistic and religious education for special-needs children for more than 15 years. "It's a way to reach out and show love for these kids — and their parents and grandparents."

Grove and others at the church then lined up cooperation with Schott Communities in Cooper City, plus two similar places: Whispering Oaks Group Home in Davie, and A Loving Heart Group Home in Pembroke Pines.

Following strict conditions

The Tebow foundation gave St. Bonaventure a $5,000 grant toward the $15,000 cost of the local prom, helping defray costs like limo service. Local donors supplied food, corsages, crowns and other services. The Tebow Foundation also provided gift bags: sling bags containing items like a Night to Shine bracelet, a cup and sunglasses, and a frame for the 5x7 pictures.

Along with the grant came a detailed agreement and manual. The 65-page manual specified not only what elements to include, but also rules for adding restroom attendants, a doctor and two nurses, even a "sensory room" in case anyone felt overwhelmed by the lights and sounds.

St. Bonaventure people also showed a gentle hand themselves. Sue McCrea, director of religious education, said that one boy stood in the parking lot, shaking, afraid to enter the prom hall.

"But then Father Ed came out and talked to him and calmed him," she said. Five minutes later, the boy came in — "then he didn’t come off the dance floor."

Parents of the guests said the prom had already made a big impression. Even as they munched snacks in the lunchroom, they knew how their kids were doing.

"He said, 'Mom, get out! I want to be by myself!'," Malu Lipsitz of Hollywood said of her son, Don, with a smile. "I never thought in my life that he would be that independent."

Magdalena Dobtcheff of Hallandale said her daughter Sandra was also affected long before arriving. "She's been talking about this for two weeks. She's been excited with preparations — the dress, the shoes, the nail polish."

And Diane Victoria of Weston said her daughter, Natalie, was "so happy to be here. It's a wonderful experience. I'm so excited that the Tim Tebow Foundation is doing this."