Overview

In 2015, a simple idea to celebrate the Foundation’s 5-year anniversary sparked what is now a worldwide movement celebrating over 100,000 people with special needs annually. Night to Shine, a prom centered on God’s love for people with special needs held simultaneously around the world on the Friday before Valentine’s Day each year, is not just an event, but an invitation into a community that values, honors and supports people with special needs and their families.

Night to Shine has since become a catalyst for additional programming intentionally designed to create year-round impact and true life change in the communities hosting the event. To support and encourage this growth, the foundation has launched Shine On as a resource to connect new and emerging special needs ministries with partners who can respond to their individual needs with customized programming, curriculum and guidance.

Shine On is expressed internationally through International Education & Resource Centers as well as emerging International Special Needs Coalitions.

Why It Matters

Rooted in the belief that everyone matters, we focus our daily efforts on standing up for those who can not fight for themselves. Perhaps nowhere else is the need to do so more apparent than in the special needs community. Too often, this demographic is overlooked, marginalized, or ignored entirely, particularly in countries outside the United States, where people with special needs are often believed to be cursed. We believe, however, that every child of God is uniquely created and inherently worthy of love, and so as we love Him, we also love ALL others (John 13:34-35).