National Night To Shine Event Brightens Local Community in Rutledge

On February 8, 2024, more than hundreds of Night To Shine volunteers and attendees began to pour into Camp Twin Lakes West campus in Rutledge, Georgia for a night of celebration. Volunteers range in variety from professional DJ’s, photographers, local high school students, to different Madison city organizations all here for one reason, to serve this community of teens and adults with special needs. Night to Shine is an event that allows for anybody 14 and older to experience a prom night that is focused on acceptance, accessibility, and understanding for the participants.

“It is a night of magic every time. I am comfortable and safe to have fun here,” says Devan Allen, a guest at Night to Shine. “We are all kings and queens, and this makes me feel happy even if I struggle with something.”

The Tim Tebow Foundation is a foundation that has been a part of helping this community through faith, hope and love. The foundation was founded in 2010 and four short years later in 2014, it hosted its very first Night to Shine event with the mission to celebrate. According to their website, since their first Night to Shine even in 2014, this event has impacted the people of more than 1,000 cities across the globe, 56 countries worldwide, and provided memorable experiences to over 555,000 participants. This year the event is celebrating its 10th year of this event.

“I can’t think of any other event that I would want to be at more. I have volunteered at this foundation for the past three years and each year I am blown away by the love that is felt here,” says Morgan Davis, an Activity Coordinator for Camp Twin Lakes. “Despite my position and role with camp, I have always marked my calendar to be at Night To Shine, and a couple years ago when they asked to host it here, it was like a dream come true.”

This event is hosted by The Fusion Church of Madison from Madison, Georgia at Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge. With faith being at the forefront of the foundation and church’s mission, it is no shock that over 75% of the volunteers are affiliated with the church and make an effort to help in any way they can each year.

“It’s our 8th year hosting Night to Shine in Madison and it could not be any more exciting, serving this community is always so rewarding,” says Josh Alexander, a member of leadership at the Fusion Church of Madison. “These folks with special needs rarely get to have a normal life or experience something as regular as a prom night so to watch as their faces light up for one night of celebration, it’s epic for sure.

For many people with special needs, events like this are difficult to enjoy due to sensory, social, or physical aspects. However, at Night to Shine, there are many aspects that are catered specifically to this community to ensure enjoyment. At this event, you can find many different sensory rooms, quiet rooms, equipment to decrease stress and stimulation and medical staff on site.

“It’s not something a lot of us experience but for something such as prom, it presents moments of overstimulation due to music and lights and difficulty with accessibility for all kinds of different special needs,” says Alicia Becks, a Night to Shine volunteer Medical Coordinator. “That’s why it is so important to be able to have people that understand disabilities and are able to care for them.”

Attendees enjoy partaking in events such as the dance floor, the photo booths, the sensory rooms, the glam stations, and the prom snacks at Night to Shine Madison. For the Tim Tebow Foundation and the Fusion Church of Madison it is apparent that they keep accessibility at the forefront of this event and make it possible for every attendee to have the best night every year.