VOLUNTEER SUPPORT — Efforts are underway for the third-annual Night to Shine event, scheduled to take place on Feb. 13 at Toronto Junior/Senior High School. Last year’s event included volunteers from the Jefferson County Vocational School’s cosmetology program, and those from the Bella Cappelli Academy glam squad. -- Contributed

TORONTO — Efforts are underway for the third-annual Night to Shine event, scheduled to be held Feb. 13 at Toronto High School.

Organizers say volunteers and donors have helped make the event the success it has become throughout the years.

Local organizers of this annual worldwide prom created by the Tim Tebow Foundation include Cookie West, public relations specialist for the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, along with Shari Prichard and the Rev. Mark Prichard of Toronto’s Crossroads North River Church.

Night to Shine celebrates those 14 and older who possess intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The foundation has sponsored the activity for the past 13 years, with Crossroads and JCBDD holding the event since 2023.

The evening will welcome 100 honored guests who will dress in their finest attire and enjoy an evening of dinner, dancing and special moments.

Activities include a catered meal, limousine rides, a disc jockey, games and a red carpet where spectators will applaud and paparazzi will photograph guests.

A respite room will be available for parents and caregivers to relax. Each honored guest will be crowned with a tiara or crown, celebrating them as prom royalty.

West noted 165 people will be on hand this year to serve as volunteers or buddies for the honored guests, cheering them on at the party. That number includes a glam squad consisting of 50 students from Bella Cappella Academy and the Jefferson County Vocational School’s cosmetology program who provide hairstyling, cosmetics and manicures for the guests, as well as manicures for those in the respite room.

West stated a wide cross-section of people will give of their time, for which she is grateful.

“We couldn’t do this without them,” West said of the volunteers. “Volunteers from every part of the community play a crucial role, and fostering connections among people is at the heart of Tim Tebow’s vision.”

“The ultimate goal is to have the community feel invested, and we’ve seen that happen through the diverse group of volunteers,” West continued. “It shows how the community as a whole is investing in our mission of building a community of belonging. You need people to fully invest, not only financially, but with their time and effort in helping us build a community of belonging. It’s being valued, respected and seen.”

Shari Prichard received the initial grant from the Tebow Foundation to hold the festivities and agreed that the volunteers were vital to its success.

“Night to Shine would not be possible without our volunteers,” Prichard said. “It’s been a tremendous blessing and a surprise how the community has rallied around it for the last three years. For a lot of volunteers, it takes them out of their comfort zone, and to see them go through the training and watch them pour out love and kindness, it’s absolutely beautiful.”