LAYTON—Approximately 1.3 billion people, or about 16% of the world's population, live with a significant disability, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This translates to 1 in 6 people globally.

In an effort to make some of the most vulnerable people feel loved and valued, former NFL player Tim Tebow, created the Tim Tebow Foundation whose mission is “To bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.”

One of the Foundation's areas of focus is for people with special needs. The event is called Night to Shine and is hosted by local churches all over the world. Here in Davis County, the Christian Life Center Church will hold the event on Feb. 13.

“I belong to the Christian Life Center Church and the pastor’s wife had for years been trying to get accepted as a church to represent the Tim Tebow Foundation,” said Lynn Thomas, coordinator. “It took her several years to be able to get approved. The reason was not because there was something that didn't fit with the Foundation, but distance means quite a bit.”

They don’t want a pack of churches right in the same area all doing it, she said. “They want to spread it out. Bountiful used to do it and then they dropped out this year which made room for us to be able to be a church and we were accepted. So we feel very honored.”

Tim Tebow felt like there were special needs people that have not been taken care of in a way that a person without those special needs has, said Thomas. “Like they’ve never had the opportunity to go to prom or they haven't had opportunities to feel special and he wanted to do that so he began developing this foundation and started out with just a few cities in a few states and now it has grown worldwide.”

This worldwide event happens on Feb.13, the day before Valentine’s Day every single year, she said. “So when we’re doing it in our state here there are other churches in our state that are doing it as well as other states across the nation.”

Thomas said she believes that people with special needs are really no different than others. “They just happen to have a situation that is more challenging for them maybe. But they should have the experience of feeling God’s love just like the rest of us do.”

At the event, both male and female attendees get a crown, she said. “They call them guests of honor and they're the king and queen of the prom. It’s going to be so exciting. We have limousines that are going to bring them up to the church.”

They’ll have a red carpet that they’ll walk down, said Thomas. “There will be paparazzi on both sides of the carpet. People will be there cheering them on and music will be playing.” 

Then they’ll come into the dance area and dance, she said. “We’ll have karaoke for them, games and activities. For the young ladies who wish to have their makeup done and hair and nails done we will do it all free of charge. Businesses have donated this kind of stuff in order to make it happen for them.”

The Foundation suggests a shoeshine for the guys but most of them wear tennis shoes, Thomas said. “I’m a cosmetologist by trade and so I was able to team up with a couple of professional barbers who are going to come in and give the guys all professional shaves so they don’t feel left out.”

It’s not just the guests who get pampered, she said. “When the caretakers or their parents come we have what’s called a ‘respite room’ where they can go and be pampered for the evening. Many times they never get a break. Every day it’s caretaking 24/7. 

This is a time where we buddy them (guests) up with a partner for the night and the buddy stays with them all the way through the evening so that the caretaker or parent can go to the respirate room, said Thomas. “We have a special dinner and they’ll have music in there and activities and games or they can just absolutely do nothing if that’s what they want.”

Tim Tebow said he’s met caretakers that were in their 80s still taking care of their 60-year-old child living at home and he felt so bad for them because they’ve taken care of this person with no relief, she said. “So he decided that they needed something as well so we do the same for them. They’ll be offered hair and makeup and nails for the ladies and the men can get a shave.”

It’s a huge event, said Thomas. “We’re so excited that we’re going to have the opportunity to do that at our church. It’s going to be amazing.”

Night to Shine will be held Feb.13 from 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at the Christian Life Center Church, 2352 East Highway #193, Layton.

For more information about Night to Shine or to apply for next year’s event visit: www.clclayton.org.