Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine comes to Birmingham February 8

Birmingham, Alabama, Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine
Night to Shine celebrates its fifth year in 2019 with events across 16 countries. Photo via Tim Tebow Foundation’s website

Night to Shine is a prom night experience sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation for people with special needs, ages 14 and above. On Friday, February 8, the event comes to the Birmingham area. The venues? Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church in Shelby County and CrossPoint Church in Trussville.

It’s Like Prom, But Better

Birmingham, Alabama, Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine
Tebow at a Night to Shine event in 2018. Photo via Tim Tebow Foundation’s website

So will Tebow be there? With 665 events happening in churches across 16 countries in one night, a Birmingham Tebow sighting is highly unlikely. But he’s not the star of the night anyway. Friday night is all about the honored guests, those with special needs.

Birmingham, Alabama, Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine
Post-coronation in 2018. Photo via Tim Tebow Foundation’s website

Better than any prom I ever attended, the night includes hair and makeup stations, shoe shining areas, limousine rides, corsages and boutonnieres. Then comes the red carpet entrances, live music, food and crowning of the kings and queens of prom—every honored guest.

Families of honorees get to enjoy the prom experience, too, including the massage chairs.

Birmingham, Alabama, Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine
Red carpet entrances are a signature of the event. Photo via Tim Tebow Foundation’s website

“In addition to the 175 honored guests … there are 225 parents or caregivers and 360 volunteers who will be entering our doors this Friday night! While we are hosting this event, there are a total of 665 churches in over 16 countries honoring over 100,000 honored guests with the help of over 200,000 volunteers. It’s HUGE and we are thrilled to be a part!”

Val Peterson, communications director, Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church
Birmingham, Alabama, Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine
Photo via Tim Tebow Foundation’s website

2019 marks the Tim Tebow Foundation’s fifth annual Night to Shine worldwide celebration. In addition to Birmingham and Trussville, other Alabama cities hosting the event this year include Daphne, Decatur, Dora, Falkville, Guntersville, Maylene, Mobile, Montgomery, Ozark, Scottsboro and Tuscaloosa. In recent years, churches in Alabaster have also held Night to Shine.

Got Friday Plans?

Does all this talk of prom have you wanting to do something special this Friday? Check out NPR Tiny Desk winner and disability rights advocate Gaelynn Lea, whose UAB concert happens February 8 at 7PM at the Alys Stephens Center. At the time of publication, tickets are still available—and are only $10.

Correction: The original version of this article stated that the event at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church was the first time Night to Shine would take place in the Birmingham area. That is incorrect. Past events have occurred in churches around Alabaster. This year Trussville is participating as well.

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