Night of the Stars in a Prom Experience for teens and adults with disabilities at West Ridge Church. It is similar to Tim Tebow's Night to Shine, but West Ridge puts their own spin on the event and goes all out. They had over 700 volunteers this year and followed up the dance with a fireworks event donated by a generous supporter.
The Arrival
Like any good prom, it starts with the outfit. Plenty of guys were in tuxes and fun, splashy suits but Jamie was content with a classic suit and tie.
Upon arrival, the driveway into the church was lined with cheerleaders and clapping bystanders. It was a fun slice of what it feels like to be a celebrity and set the mood immediately.
Jamie looked a little understated for the crowd, but he was happy and more interested in meeting his buddy and finding his friends. He did, however, put on his trademark dark sunglasses when they gave him a pair at check in!
the Buddy
Jamie's buddy for the evening was fun college student named Quinn. She had texted me earlier in the week to ask a little about Jamie's needs and preferences. It was a nice touch and we had a name to talk about leading up to the event. This went a long way towards easing anxiety.
Quinn quickly whisked Jamie away to the fun! Troy and I were left alone for a few hours and made it a date night at a restaurant. A treat for all of us!
The Event
As in any good prom event, the parents only get part of the story. The details are sketchy, but I know there was a limo ride and various activities.
Chick-fil-A dinners were served and he was generously given a gift card for future use. Even the cow showed up for the occasion.
Dancing was the big event for Jamie and his favorite part of the evening. His sweet buddy sent us a few videos. I have evidence the chicken dance was involved!
And of course the pictures! There was a photography section and super fun video area. Each participant was given a frame with their official photo to take home.
The grand finale of the evening was a fireworks display. Parents were encouraged to come watch the show as well. The church reached out to participants beforehand and asked about sensory issues with the show. Jamie is sensitive to loud noises and said he wanted to be kept inside. We picked him up just before it started, but I bet it was grand just like the rest of the evening!
Thank you to West Ridge Church and ALL the volunteers!
What a special night for a great group of teens and young adults. Jamie will hold these memories for a long time. We also want to extend a generous scoop of gratitude to his awesome buddy Quinn for making this such a fun night.
* Photos provided by West Ridge photographers , Quinn and myself
