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On Friday, the First Baptist Church on the Square will host Night to Shine 2023, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation (TTF).

Night to Shine Coordinator Joy Poole said she believes this is the first time an event like this to take place in LaGrange.

“Last year, we held a drive-thru event because we couldn’t do an in-person event because of COVID,” Poole said. “This is the first time we will be able to offer the event in person.”

Night to Shine was originally launched in 2015 with 44 host churches and 15,000 volunteers honoring more than 7,000 guests with special needs. In February 2020, the event grew to 721 host churches and 215,000 volunteers coming together to celebrate more than 100,000 guests.

The event will work as a prom night experience, centered around celebrating people with special needs with a night to remember.

The TTF said in a press release, every guest of Night to Shine will have a full red carpet experience complete with walking the red carpet, receiving hair and makeup services, limousine rides, a catered dinner, karaoke, prom favors and a dance floor leading up to the moment when each guest is crowned king or queen of the prom.

“Our parents and caregivers will have a separate section and will be treated to a catered dinner for the event,” Poole said. “The community and its volunteers have been unbelievably supportive. We hope to be able to reach, special needs families, their students and children and celebrate them for a night.”

Poole said guests interested in attending the event must register and be at least 14 years old or older. She said important information such as allergies and emergency contacts will be taken to ensure the safety of all guests in attendance.

For more information on Night to Shine and to register, visit https://fbclagrange.org/event/8791/. The event will begin at 6 p.m.