Starry Night brings out the best for special needs prom at Victory Baptist

Hundreds of volunteers and dozens of participants came together late last week for a prom night experience at Victory Baptist Church.

The Starry Night event at Victory Baptist Church was the first held in Polk County, taking a page from the Tim Tebow Foundation’s A Night to Shine to bring together locals to provide simply the best for those with special needs to have a prom-like experience annually.

The 86 participants were given the red carpet treatment on Friday, February 10 at Victory Baptist for the prom night event thanks to the efforts of 350 volunteers gathering to make the night one to remember with dancing, fancy dress, food, music and much more.

Director Amanda Bailey said the community came together to make this one a success, and so many contributed their time, funds and efforts to ensure the first-ever Starry Night in Polk County was a success.

She said the appreciation of those who got to enjoy the experience can’t be properly expressed in words, but instead can only be found in the smiles on the faces of the participants and volunteers who took part at the church on Friday night.

“It was an amazing experience for everyone involved, and we look forward to bringing together the community again for our 2024 Starry Night and many more to come!” she said.

Bailey said a date will be announced soon for the 2024 Starry Night Polk County. The goal is to hold it again at Victory Baptist, but those plans aren’t yet set in stone for next year.

Starry Night (FB started as Night to Shine) is more of a local spinoff of previous efforts put forth by the Tim Tebow Foundation across the country for A Night To Shine Prom for those with special needs, providing anyone 14 and up the opportunity to take part in a fancy event together, and give caretakers an evening to take a breath as well and enjoy themselves too.