POUGHKEEPSIE – Poughkeepsie’s Odyssey Church announced today that it will serve as one of the 671 churches around the world already registered to host Night to Shine 2020. This event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, will be held at local churches across the globe simultaneously on Friday, February 7, 2020. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs ages 14 and older. Once again, the event will be held at Mill Creek Caterers in Hopewell Junction.
“Odyssey is thrilled to be a part of this worldwide movement for the second year in a row,” said Steve Dambra, pastor at Odyssey Church. “The Night to Shine is uniting churches of different denominations all over the world with the common goal of celebrating people with special needs. It’s so fitting that Dutchess County, a forerunner in thinking differently, and past host of Special Olympics New York’s Summer and Winter Games, be a place where all people continue to feel welcomed.”
Following a limousine ride, every guest of Night to Shine enters this complimentary event on a red carpet complete with a warm welcome from a friendly crowd and local media. Once inside, guests receive the royal treatment, including hair, makeup, and shoe shining stations; corsages and boutonnieres; a catered dinner; karaoke; prom favors; a dance floor… all leading up to the moment when each guest is crowned king or queen of the prom.
“It is awe-inspiring to see how God is using the Church globally to stand up and advocate for people with special needs,” said Tim Tebow, founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation. “I truly believe that the world is coming together through Night to Shine to celebrate the love that God has for us! Every town, every village, every state, every country needs a Night to Shine for their special needs community – a chance to be a part of something significant and life-changing…and to be blessed in the process.”
As sponsor of Night to Shine, the Tim Tebow Foundation provides each host church, including Odyssey, with the official 2020 Night to Shine Planning Manual. Along with the manual, personalized guidance and support from a Tim Tebow Foundation staff member and access to free and discounted resources assist in creating an unforgettable night for their guests. The foundation also has committed nearly $3.5 million in financial support to hundreds of churches to help in hosting the event.
Night to Shine has experienced incredible growth since its launch in 2015, with 44 host churches and 15,000 volunteers honoring more than 7,000 kings and queens of the prom. This past February, 655 host churches and 200,000 volunteers came together to celebrate 100,000 honored guests with special needs. Now in its sixth year, the Tim Tebow Foundation anticipates 800 churches will sign up to host the event taking place this coming February.
For additional information on the Night to Shine hosted by Poughkeepsie’s Odyssey Church at Mill Creek Caterers in Hopewell Junction, visit www.odysseychurch.org.
For more information on the worldwide movement of Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, visit: http://www.
Odyssey Church focuses on providing a safe place for individuals with special needs to be part of a community of believers in Jesus Christ. Odyssey Church’s mission is to meet the ongoing needs of people living with special needs and their families while allowing the needs of the community to determine the direction of the ministry.
The Tim Tebow Foundation exists to bring Faith, Hope, and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. That mission is being fulfilled every day through the foundation’s seven areas of outreach, including W15H, Timmy’s Playrooms, Orphan Care & Prevention, Adoption Aid, the Tebow CURE Hospital, Team Tebow and Night to Shine. For more information on the Tim Tebow Foundation, please visit www.timtebowfoundation.
