GALT, CA (MPG) - A night of glam, smiles and high energy filled the air the evening of Feb. 13 as Queens and Kings took center stage at the annual Night to Shine celebration.

Limousines and limo buses rotated steadily through the parking lot at Galt High School, dropping off around 240 honored guests who made their way down a red carpet lined with loved ones and community members cheering them on.

The event marked the largest Night to Shine hosted by Horizon Community Church, with more attendees than the year prior. In total, 275 volunteers contributed their time, and 25 high schools and nine churches from across Sacramento and San Joaquin counties partnered to make the event a regional celebration, with Galt serving as the host city.

Night to Shine is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, founded in 2014 by former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. The annual event brings churches around the world together to celebrate individuals with special needs ages 14 and older by offering them a prom night experience.

Before attendees arrived, The Galt Herald spoke with those working behind the scenes to prepare guests for the evening. Uplift Live Confident Medicine, a Lodi-based business specializing in beauty and aesthetic medical services, participated by offering glam stations at its location at 777 S. Ham Lane. Honored guests were welcomed with a red carpet and complimentary bags filled with beauty and skin care supplies.

Fernanda Mendoza, who handles branding and marketing for Uplift Live Confident Medicine, said attendees were offered facials, makeup, hair styling and nail services. Parents and caretakers were also offered massages while they waited.

Mendoza said she was inspired to lead the effort after volunteering at Night to Shine in previous years and wanted to find another way to give back. She added that parents expressed gratitude for the care shown to their loved ones.

“Uplift, it says in the name; we try to uplift everyone from the inside out,” Mendoza said. “We are here to support our community; we’re here to give back.”

“I think now that word is going to get out about it, we’re going to have a bigger event next year,” said Micky Kammerer, one of the visionaries for Uplift Live Confident Medicine who also participated at the glam station event.

The Night to Shine celebration marked the second consecutive year the event has been held in Galt. Lead Pastor Tim Stevenson said the event outgrew its original location in Lodi and relocated after the church was offered use of Galt High School’s gymnasiums.

 

Horizon Community Church Lead Pastor Tim Stevenson, left, welcomes an honored guest as they step off a limousine at Galt High School for the Feb. 13 Night to Shine event. Photo by Courtney Bamert, Horizon Community Church

Stevenson said the larger venue was needed to accommodate not only the honored guests, “buddies” and volunteers but also parents and caretakers. Those guests were provided dinner and entertainment at Horizon Community Church on Fairway Drive and could watch a live feed of the event, allowing them to feel comfortable while their loved ones participated at Night to Shine.

“The city has turned out,” Stevenson said, noting that city officials such as Councilmember Shawn Farmer and Vice Mayor Tim Reed typically participate by volunteering as buddies.

Stevenson said that as an amputee, he understands how it feels being perceived differently by others and added that the event is intended to create a welcoming environment for individuals with special needs.

“We all have a special need. Every one of us has a disability of some kind; just some are more visible,” Stevenson said. “This is one way in the community that we can reach out to those who are sometimes overlooked.”

Horizon Community Church’s efforts were recognized Feb. 17 at the City of Galt meeting, where officials presented a certificate to church leadership for helping to bring the event to the community, noting it has become a “meaningful experience” for residents.