“Night to Shine” – An Evening To Remember

Reported by Emma Bach

On Feb. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m., Newberg Christian Church (NCC) will be hosting Night to Shine, a prom designated for those with special needs. The Tim Tebow Foundation, which supports and sponsors the event, describes the night as a time for “churches to shine, the volunteers to shine, our honored guests to shine, and most importantly, God to shine!”

Night to Shine pulls out all the stops to guarantee an unforgettable experience — those attending can partake in a limo ride, get their hair and makeup done and have their shoes shined. After leaving the limo, they begin an evening of dinner, dancing and karaoke.

Sami Molina, a first-year student, has been a volunteer at Night to Shine for the past two years and plans to volunteer again this year. Molina has aided with various activities, from doing hair and make-up to accompanying attendees as a buddy.

“I love getting to see the kids enjoy it,” Molina said. “A lot of them don’t get to do things like this often. They get all dressed up and are so happy.”

Debbie Groat is the co-leader of NCC’s Night to Shine, along with Katlyn Kronschnabl. Both women have been involved in the event since the beginning. Groat explained how Night to Shine first came to Newberg:

“The Tim Tebow Foundation contacted Newberg Christian Church about four and a half years ago, asking if we would be interested in holding Night to Shine,” Groat said. “Of course, we said yes!  It was the first year that they branched out, and we were one of the original 44 churches.”

Since then, Night to Shine has grown notably; this year, over 650 churches throughout the world are hosting the prom.

If you want to offer your time and effort towards Night to Shine, there’s still time to apply.

“We can always use more volunteers” Groat said. “George Fox University holds a key role, as the students usually sign up to be buddies … It will be an evening you will never forget!”