A prom for everyone: ‘Night to Shine’ honors special Centre County guests with memorable night

Get your gala and glittery clothes out of the closet, it’s prom time.

Hundreds participated in Friday’s “Night to Shine,” a prom night experience focused on including those with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, in addition to other disabilities. This year’s event at Calvary Harvest Fields Church was composed of more than 250 volunteers helping to make a memorable night for 150 guests.

The church works alongside the Tim Tebow Foundation to create an event that is committed to honoring people with special needs. One single night, more than 500 churches from around the world reunite for a prom for those who didn’t feel comfortable attending or want to change their first experience.

In central Pennsylvania, the night was filled with smiles and color.

“People have value just because they’re people. I think that tonight kind of highlights that we just celebrate diversity and celebrate the uniqueness of people,” said Kendra Gettig, one of the organizers of the local event. “Coming from a faith-based perspective, we think that people are created in the image of God, and that includes the disability community, so we just love an opportunity to celebrate them.”

Organizers and volunteers started gathering at 4 p.m., coming around with smiles on their faces ready to start the work. All volunteers had previously gone through training to feel capable of following through with any tasks or unexpected moments that the night could bring.

“A lot of them are connected to Calvary,” said Jackie Borst, one of the organizers of the event and an instructor at Lock Haven. “But some of them are actually Penn State students.”

With the event’s highest-ever attendance, there were multiple tasks for them. Each volunteer was assigned to one position, ranging from being a flower-pinning person, buddy or even part of the karaoke organization.

Abby Hamme and Jenna Wakefield were both part of the buddy volunteers, who were responsible for making the guests’ nights the most comforting and best possible. The friends were both college students, and their program director is one of the people in charge of the volunteers.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to grow in being able to express your love for other people,” Hamer said. “It’s a great way to help others and serve others.”

Those “buddy” volunteers got to know the guest better from their name tags, which included diet, allergies and medical conditions. They would follow them through the dance floor, karaoke and many other available activities.

The first thing all people had to do was take a professional picture that would be printed and handed out to them at the end of the night. Following those, guests would have the option to go to a makeup table, shoe shinning or head to the dance floor and main auditorium.

“It’s a good event for the entire community and a greater cause,” said Austin Owens, an EMT paramedic working at the event. “This promotes awareness, and also it allows people to relax and just have a good night. You have all these people being super supportive. It’s definitely for a great cause”

One of the most special parts of the event was the Red Carpet. Every time a guest passed through it, a group of volunteers were assigned to cheer and wave their pom-poms. As guests passed through the carpet and blue, white and silver balloon arch, their faces lit up.

At the end of the night, a crowning ceremony happened. In that, all guests present were crowned king and queen of the night.

Following the coronation, a balloon drop was one of the night’s most anticipated moments. The blue, white and silver colors were all over the dance floor.

Guests then left how they arrived — with a smile.