Tim Tebow Hosts 44 Special Prom Nights Across the Country

Former quarterback's charity partnered with local churches to give back.

ByABC News
February 20, 2015, 5:03 PM
All guests at Night to Shine proms were given crowns and tiaras.
All guests at Night to Shine proms were given crowns and tiaras.
Tim Tebow Foundation

— -- Roughly 7,000 teens across the country were treated to a special "Night to Shine" last weekend, featuring glamorous gowns, dashing tuxedos, and red carpet photos, all courtesy of the Tim Tebow Foundation.

The former quarterback's charity coordinated with local churches in 26 states, as well as in Uganda and Kenya, to provide individuals with special needs a fabulous nationwide prom on Feb. 13, and in lieu of choosing prom kings and queens, everyone who attended received a crown or tiara.

"Words cannot adequately express the joy that I experienced during Night to Shine," said Tebow, who surprised some lucky guests at proms in Kernersville, North Carolina, and Simpsonville, South Carolina throughout the evening.

"If I think about 44 churches in 26 states and three countries with more than 15,000 volunteers and 7,000 guests it is very humbling and overwhelming," he added. "But when you simply spend time together, you can begin to turn statistics into stories!"

PHOTO: Night to Shine was created as a nationwide prom for people with special needs ages 16 and older.
Night to Shine was created as a nationwide prom for people with special needs ages 16 and older.

"When this project began, we hoped that on this night, the churches would shine, the volunteers would shine, Christ would shine and our guests would feel like kings and queens," said Erik Dellenback, executive director of the Tim Tebow Foundation, which celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. "We believe that's exactly what happened."

PHOTO: More than 7,000 guests attended Night to Shine events, hosted by the Tim Tebow Foundation.
More than 7,000 guests attended Night to Shine events, hosted by the Tim Tebow Foundation.

The SEC Network analyst hopes to make the Night To Shine an annual event, noting that there are churches already on a waiting list for 2016. For those who would like to support this effort, donations can be made at www.timtebowfoundation.org