Earlier in February, hundreds of thousands of people came together on one single night — all from different cities, countries and cultures — to celebrate people with special needs.
At Night to Shine on Feb. 8, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, more than 200,000 volunteers from 655 churches and 35 different denominations across the United States and 24 countries, honored more than 100,000 guests with special needs simultaneously on one night.
“Night to Shine is special because there are so many things in our society that tear people apart and this night is a night that brings people together,” said Tim Tebow, founder and chairman of the Tim Tebow Foundation and a Ponte Vedra native. “Because every single person is important ... we are all loved, we are all created in God’s image and there is a reason and a purpose for each our lives.”
As he does each year, Tebow set off to attend as many locations as he could to be able to personally encourage, celebrate and love on the communities hosting Night to Shine and their guests. Tebow’s travels began Wednesday, Feb. 6, with the 2019 Night to Shine Kickoff Tour. The first leg of the Kickoff Tour was in Cuenca, Ecuador, at the Unsion Foundation, followed by Thursday's stop at Familia De Dios in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. While at Night to Shine in Ecuador and Mexico, Tebow and the team who accompanied him walked guests down Earlier in February, hundreds of thousands of people came together on one single night — all from different cities, countries and cultures — to celebrate people with special needs.
At Night to Shine on Feb. 8, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, more than 200,000 volunteers from 655 churches and 35 different denominations across the United States and 24 countries, honored more than 100,000 guests with special needs simultaneously on one night.
“Night to Shine is special because there are so many things in our society that tear people apart and this night is a night that brings people together,” said Tim Tebow, founder and chairman of the Tim Tebow Foundation and a Ponte Vedra native. “Because every single person is important ... we are all loved, we are all created in God’s image and there is a reason and a purpose for each our lives.”
As he does each year, Tebow set off to attend as many locations as he could to be able to personally encourage, celebrate and love on the communities hosting Night to Shine and their guests. Tebow’s travels began Wednesday, Feb. 6, with the 2019 Night to Shine Kickoff Tour. The first leg of the Kickoff Tour was in Cuenca, Ecuador, at the Unsion Foundation, followed by Thursday's stop at Familia De Dios in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. While at Night to Shine in Ecuador and Mexico, Tebow and the team who accompanied him walked guests down the red carpet, danced and crowned guests king or queen.
After Mexico, the team flew back to the States to make several stops throughout the day at host locations as they prepared for the big night. The team surprised students with special needs and Night to Shine honored guests at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, and were able to pray with the students as well as tour where Night to Shine would be held that evening. At Compass Christian Church in Grapevine, Texas, they surprised some volunteers that were setting up for Night to Shine, took photos and prayed with the volunteers and leadership team. The next stop was Crossroads Christian Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, who has hosted Night to Shine all five years. The team surprised honored guests that were getting their hair and makeup done, listened to their worship team as they prepared for Night to Shine and prayed with the leadership team.
As Night to Shine began to make its way across the country, the team traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they visited Legacy Church, another fifth-year host. Tebow met and thanked volunteers, surprised and spent time with honored guests getting their hair and makeup done and prayed over the team of volunteers.
The last church to be surprised by Tebow for Night to Shine 2019 was ZOE Church in Los Angeles. Tebow welcomed numerous guests as they walked the red carpet, and then spent the night dancing with kings and queens and shared the message of God’s love with all the honored guests and volunteers.
All while Tim Tebow and the TTF team were traveling Friday evening, Night to Shine events were happening simultaneously around the world.
This year alone, the Tim Tebow Foundation dedicated more than $2.5 million to Night to Shine through financial grants assisting churches who wished to host, prom kits for each of the host churches including décor and gifts for the honored guest and individual staff support. The foundation’s commitment is made possible through the generous support of the event’s official Global Partner, American Residential Services.
Visit www.timtebowfoundation.org for more information on the Tim Tebow Foundation.
