MEMPHIS, Tenn –A Memphis church is getting ready to turn its building into a massive prom for some young people with special needs.
The Highland Church of Christ on Houston Levee is throwing the kids a “Night to Shine, ” a party where no one is excluded.
“Walk into the building. That’s when someone announces my name, and I walk out, and everybody starts cheering for me from left and right,” said Jade Walton, an attendee for three years.”The year before that, I actually had a green dress, the color, my birthstone,” said Walton. “I’m named after a stone and like, a green dress. I actually had a green tiara, too.”
Jade Walton has shined in three prom events. Last year, she was one of 250 people with special needs to walk the red carpet and pack the dance floor.
“We start planning for a night to shine months in advance. But then the preparation goes in and buying decorations and dance floor,” said Walton. “We have limousines, party buses. We transform the building in the weeks leading up to the event.”
Highland is one of the hundreds of churches across the globe partnering with the Tim Tebow Foundation for a free night of fun the Friday before Valentine’s Day.
Walton says some past participants could not go to their prom in high school.
“So it’s so fun to be able to provide that for some of our older guests who maybe didn’t get to experience that in high school,” said Walton.
She says every guest gets crowned king or queen, making their prom experience unforgettable.
“And makes you just happy, blessed, just joyful,” said Walton.
She says so far, the proms have been some of the best nights of her life.