District 308 Partners with Tim Tebow, Big Life Community Church and Celebrate Differences to Hold Special Night to Shine

Oswego, Ill. (January 27, 2016) — Community Unit School District 308 will hold this year’s prom for special needs students who are age 16 and older living within the district and throughout Chicagoland. The area’s second annual prom for special needs students will be held February 12, 2016, from 6-9 p.m. in the Oswego East High School atrium.

The Tim Tebow Foundation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is sponsoring this year’s free prom, Night to Shine—a safe place for special needs students to be themselves and enjoy a night of unforgettable fun. Big Life Community Church in conjunction with Celebrate Differences NFP, both located in Oswego, Ill., are hosting the event.

On prom night, each special needs student will enter the atrium via a red carpet with a stop at a Paparazzi-style backdrop for a photo. Here each student will be crowned king or queen and receive a boutonniere or corsage.

Students can attend the prom with a date, by themselves, or with a friend or group of friends. Each student will be assigned a volunteer.

“Last year, 70 people attended the prom,” Executive Director of Big Life Community Church Marissa McClure Mitchell said. “This year we have 100 prom kits, with gift bags and crowns, so we are capping attendance at 100 students. Half of the spaces are still open, but we expect to fill our quota completely.”

Teri Collins, a custodian at Oswego East High School, was instrumental in bringing the event to the district in 2015. Last year, Collins served as the prom’s facilities coordinator, a volunteer position she has signed on for again this year.

“I love watching the children enjoy themselves and be part of something so wonderful,” Collins said. “A lot of the amazing volunteers from last year were students from both of the district’s high schools.”

Night to Shine is still looking for volunteers for this year’s event. Volunteers can sign up to be a dancer, help serve food, or to serve in a number of other roles. To sign up to attend the prom or to volunteer, go to www.specialprom.com.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone within the special needs community and for the community to be part of something that is truly joyful,” McClure Mitchell said. “We have opportunities for volunteers as well as opportunities to donate financially.”

Prom guests will enjoy rock and pop dance music provided by a professional DJ, and they will be able to show off their singing talents in the karaoke room. A buffet and refreshments will also be available.

Night to Shine is a worldwide movement that will take place February 12 in 41 states across the nation and seven countries around the world through more than 100 host churches. Host churches expect to see more than 20,000 people with special needs enjoying an unforgettable prom this year.

The Tim Tebow Foundation strives to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need www.timtebowfoundation.org. Big Life Community Church welcomes everyone through unapologetically positive, judgment-free faith in Jesus www.biglifecc.org. Celebrate Differences NFP is committed to celebrating the achievements of those with disabilities www.celebratedifferences.org.