For the first time, all four Compass Church locations in DFW will host the event on Feb. 7, including the Compass Church Roanoke location at 1101 Hwy. 114, Roanoke.
The event is sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and will take place at 721 churches in 2020 in support of 115,000 special-needs individuals and with help from 215,000 volunteers, according to the foundation’s website.
“Last year we had three campuses participate, and we ran out of room,” Compass Church Executive Pastor Maureen Hilt said. “It’s been a way bigger response than I could have dreamed.”
In its sixth year since inception, the Night to Shine event has been a part of Compass Church for the last four and has grown from 100 guests and 150 volunteers to more than 400 "kings" and "queens" and 1,100 volunteers, Hilt said.
“We’ve got florists, grocery stores and restaurants all chipping in. It’s taken a huge community effort, but they’re responding,” she said. “It’s been amazing.”
Hilt first learned of Night to Shine after hearing Tebow speak at an event. Having a special-needs daughter of her own, she approached Tebow, and soon Compass Church was one of hundreds participating.
“It has been wonderful to carry on her legacy,” Hilt said. “We do a pink balloon release before the event every year in honor of her.”
One purpose of the event is to provide a connection for special-needs kids to their community, Hilt said.
“A lot of these kids get out of school and have no social life, so were trying to make this the beginning and then carry on these relationships afterwards,” she said.
Volunteer and king and queen spots have been filled for 2020, Hilt said, but the church plans to host the event for a fifth time in 2021. For more information on Night to Shine visit compassnighttoshine.com or go to timtebowfoundation.org.
“We’re going to do it again next year, so we definitely want people to come back,” Hilt said. “It changes you. It really does. It’s amazing watching how we can make someone else feel so blessed.”
