- May 14, 2024
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ZZ Nichols and Emily Spottiswood sing their hearts out. Photo by Alexis Miller
Lisa Hick poses with her Dunkin' Donut wall. Photo by Alexis Miller
Father Lopez High School cheerleaders and their mascot, the Green Wave. Photo by Alexis Miller
Tomoka Christian Church Lead Pastor Joe Putting poses with Shelldon, the Daytona Tortugas mascot and Father Lopez's Green Wave. Photo by Alexis Miller
Amanda and Elijah Keen perform in the parent room. Photo by Alexis Miller
Christina Moore, of Tomoka Christian Church, smiles with some light-up stilt walkers. Photo by Alexis Miller
Camerin Fuehrer and Scotty Masters dance during Night to Shine. Photo by Alexis Miller
Crowns were at the ready for the prom's kings and queens. Photo by Alexis Miller
Shoshana Ravede walks down the red carpet. Photo by Alexis Miller
An LED stilt walker and Shelldon fist bump. Photo by Alexis Miller
An LED stilt walker dances during Night to Shine. Photo by Alexis Miller
Some of the prom's kings and queens enjoy Night to Shine. Photo by Alexis Miller
Tim Tebow issues a message via video during the prom. Photo by Alexis Miller
A balloon drop marks the end of the night. Photo by Alexis Miller
A balloon drop marks the end of the night. Photo by Alexis Miller
Young volunteers hold up signs for guests entering the prom. Photo by Alexis Miller
Matt Sowers and Connor Dewitt take a dance break. Photo by Alexis Miller
An LED stilt walker shows off her wings. Photo by Alexis Miller
The crowns for the kings and queens sit on the prom's throne. Photo by Alexis Miller
A surprise proposal takes place on stage. Photo by Alexis Miller
Christina Moore, of Tomoka Christian Church, smiles from the stage. Photo by Alexis Miller
The Night to Shine prom featured a stage and DJ. Photo by Alexis Miller
Camerin Fuehrer and Marcie Dalrymple. Photo by Alexis Miller
People enjoy the Night to Shine candy bar. Photo by Alexis Miller
Brandon Smith makes balloon animals for everyone. Photo by Alexis Miller
Rilea Jackson walks down the red carpet. Photo by Alexis Miller
People cheer on the guests. Photo by Alexis Miller
Shelldon, the Daytona Tortugas mascot, greets guests. Photo by Alexis Miller
Ashley Green showed off her new waves in the salon.
Friends attended the special night together.
Alec Nachtsheim exits the limo with the help of a Windermere Police Department officer.
Participants walked the red carpet amid a cheering crowd.
Janet Laub and Zach Carter were all smiles out on the dance floor.
Graham Sumner shares a dance with his buddy from Night to Shine.
Tyler Campbell walked the red carpet with his buddy from Night to Shine.
Joseph Farris and his Buddy Jennifer Hubbell strut the red carpet.
Erin Maciarz and Doug Sherman attended the event together.
London Davidson, Rocky Maiorca, Renee Ennis and Kereece Dare stopped for a quick photo on the dance floor.
Maria Arboleda has her hair done by Kari Larsen before the start of the event.
Ladies had their makeup done before the beginning of the event.
Christopher Montgomery had his shoes shined before the start of the event.
Marieni Jules and her mother Myrlande Pierre-Louise exit the limo.
Teresa Renfroe and Evan Pryor were welcomed by cheering attendees along the red carpet.
Tomoka Christian Church held its sixth annual Night to Shine event on Friday, Feb. 10th.
Night to Shine is sponsored by the Tim Tebow foundation and happens globally every year. This prom is for people with special needs 14 and up.
“It’s to give recognition and honor to people that often get shoved aside,” Lead Pastor Joe Putting said. “It’s people of all ages, all special needs and it’s just a chance to love on those people.”
After weeks of planning and setting up, the big night event included a dance floor, buffets, candy bars, donut walls, balloon animals, professional photos, a red-carpet entrance, gifts, the crowning of kings and queens, along with a balloon drop and fireworks. There was also a parent and caregiver room that had a buffet, live music, hair stylists, massages and nail stylists.
“We want this to not just be a one-time event, we want them to see that Tomoka cares and we’re here for the long haul,” said Christina Moore, event coordinator and benevolence director at Tomoka Christian Church.
The event encourages participating Night to Shine sites to go out into their communities to encourage donations to help make the prom possible.
“When you pour into your community, and you include them and not just ask them, it changes their perception of what you’re doing,” Moore said.
There were around 654 sites that hosted a Night to Shine event this year, with only two of them taking place in Volusia County. Volusia usually has nine different sites, making it more accessible for people in different areas. Due to them only having two this year locally, Tomoka Christian Church was close to its maximum capacity. With over 500 volunteers and 250 guests, it was a full house.
“We not only market what we do here at the church, but also our love for special needs and how they are just a community of people that are underserved, because people don’t know how to interact for them and with them and sometimes, they feel the burden of their needs is not easily available for them," Moore said.
