APEX, N.C. — The eighth annual Night to Shine — a prom experience for anyone with special needs — was celebrated around the world Friday night.
What You Need To Know
Night to Shine is hosted worldwide by the Tim Tebow Foundation
The event is open to anyone 14 or older with special needs
Local volunteers make the experience possible at local churches
Night to Shine is a worldwide prom event for individuals with special needs put together by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Former college football star Tebow has become a household name, known for his charity work with events like this, and while he’s an obvious everyday hero, it takes many people in our communities to make his vision a reality.
“It almost brings a tear to my eye, just thinking through because I was one of those kids — I'll be honest — I was mean as a kid,” Wade "DJ Wade-O" Harris said. “And so this is one of those situations where you see it and you say, 'man, I wish I could have been a part of something like this when I was younger because it would have given me a whole different perspective.'”
He and an army of volunteers rolled out the red carpets, did hair and makeup, drove limousines, and made sure the guests of honor at the eighth annual Night to Shine felt completely celebrated.
“I've had an opportunity to literally DJ all over the country and even outside of the country,” Harris said. “There's nothing like Night To Shine.”
Harris hasn’t missed one since he moved here and discovered the magic this night brings to a community.
“I had contact with people impacted with special needs, but I had never been in a place that celebrated those individuals,” Harris said. “This was the first time that I've been in a place where we said, no, no, no, no, we're not going to put them over here, we're actually going to create an environment that celebrates them.”
Although, he’s been a DJ for over 20 years, he put two months of prep work into this event, making sure everything would be flawless. The entire goal of the event is to make sure everyone that steps across the red carpet knows they are perfect exactly the way they are and are loved for their unique differences.
“I think it's easy for us to look at ourselves and see our flaws, see our mistakes, and this event is just a reminder that there are no mistakes,” Harris said. “I am so excited to see the smiles that will be on the faces of everyone who walks through those doors.”
The first Night to Shine was held in 2015 in 44 churches, by 2020 that number was over 700.
Hope Community Church in Apex is just one of the many that have been involved for years and if the over-the-top energy didn’t give it away, this is the first year they’ve been back in person since the pandemic.
“This event is one of those things that's a reminder that as people, we need to see everybody who walks in the room,” Harris said.
