Bella DeVito, Reporter
@BDeVitoCourant
Photo contributed by Julia Hughes
After months of excitement and frenzied preparation, Night to Shine took place on Friday February 7.
Night to Shine is a prom party for people with special needs, and it was hosted at Grace Farms. The event was coordinated by Grace Community Church’s executive director, Julia Hughes.
The origins of Night to Shine date back to over a decade ago. “Night to Shine was started by the Tim Tebow Foundation eleven years ago,” said Ms. Hughes. “It started as a prom party in churches in the United States, but it’s grown into a worldwide initiative. It’s a time for people who have special needs to experience a prom that they might not otherwise experience.”
Night to Shine was introduced to New Canaan nine years ago. “A woman from Star Lighting the Way, a nonprofit organization that serves people of all ages who have Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, approached our pastor at Grace Community Church, and said that she would love to see Night to Shine brought to Connecticut,” said Ms. Hughes. “720 churches worldwide are hosting the event, and we are one of 4 churches in Connecticut doing it.”
Although Night to Shine is mainly organized for high schoolers with special needs, the event welcomes everyone. “We have somebody who’s 14 years old, someone who is 83 years old, and people everywhere in between; however, most people are in their 20s and young teens,” said Ms. Hughes.
Night to Shine also beckons everybody to help out with the event. “Anybody fifteen and older can serve as a buddy,” said Ms. Hughes. “Buddies accompany the guests throughout the night, so they’ll be dancing with them, having dinner with them, walking the red carpet with them, and having their pictures taken with them.”
Other volunteers include sponsors, photographers, caterers, valets, and people serving as safety. “In total, we have over 500 volunteers alone at our event, as well as 160 guests, who are the people with special needs,160 buddies, who accompany the guests, and 250 parents who enjoy a special dinner,” said Ms. Hughes.
A tremendous amount of work goes into making Night to Shine as special as possible. “Friday afternoon all the volunteers get on site, all the buddies get on site, and at 6 o’clock all of the guests arrive on site to officially start the night,” said Ms. Hughes.
NCHS students also went to Night to Shine as buddies. “This was my second year being a part of Night to Shine, and it is always the best night,” said Senior Brooke Gusitsch. “The past two years, I spent weeks looking forward to this event and I always leave the night feeling so happy. It’s such a great opportunity to get involved and make someone’s year.”
The buddies start off the night by meeting their guests. “After meeting our guests, we head to the glam room, where guests get their hair done, makeup done, shoes shined, and receive a boutonniere or corsage,” said Brooke. “After the glam room, I took a limo ride to the red carpet with my guest Ethan Hughes, an NCHS alumni. That was one of the best moments of the night. The red carpet was filled on both sides with a cheer squad, signs, and bells.”
After the red carpet, guests enter the dance floor. “It has food, cotton candy machines, photo booths, and, my favorite, DJ Joe,” said Brooke. “At the end of the night, you get the honor to crown your guest as prom king or queen, which is so special.”
Night to Shine has grown quickly and has many volunteers who are dedicated to making the night amazing. “When we first started, the majority of the volunteers and the buddies were all from New Canaan High School,” said Ms. Hughes. “But now we have participants from the Harvey school in Catona, the New Canaan Mounted Troop, Darien High School, Norwalk High School, and Brian McMahon.”
Night to Shine is a celebration that brings people of all demographics together. “Unfortunately, there are many people with special needs who can’t go to prom,” said Ms. Hughes. “People who have special needs are such an important part of this world, and a big part of Night to Shine is to give them a night to remember.”
