01/13/2026
🌟🪩😁
Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Volunteers, Donors Help Make Night Shine
TORONTO-As efforts get underway for the third-annual Night to Shine this February, organizers say volunteers and donors have helped to make the event successful.
Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities Community and Public Relations Specialist Cookie West, Shari Prichard and Pastor Mark Prichard of Crossroads North River Church in Toronto are organizing festivities at Toronto Jr./Sr. High School on Feb. 12 as part of the Tim Tebow Foundation’s annual worldwide prom to celebrate individuals ages 14 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The foundation has sponsored the activity for the past 13 years and currently includes about 63 countries, while Crossroads North River Church and JCBDD have held the event since 2023. Night to Shine is an event that welcomes 100 “honored guests” who dress in their finest attire to enjoy an evening filled with dinner, dancing, and special moments and local residents, along with representatives from businesses and agencies, volunteer their time. Activities include a catered meal, limousine rides, a DJ, games, and a red carpet where volunteers applaud and “paparazzi” photograph the guests. A respite room is also available for family members and caregivers to relax. Each honored guest is crowned with a tiara or crown, celebrating them as prom royalty. In addition to the festivities, Beth Rupert Warren from the Jefferson County Resource Network will discuss community resources ranging from spiritual support to social services and Mindy Aleksiejczyk from Special Connections will highlight inclusive activities available for individuals of all ages.
West said 165 volunteers will be on hand this year to serve as volunteers and buddies for the honored guests and cheer the individuals on at the big party. That number also includes a glam squad with 50 students from Bella Cappelli Academy and Jefferson County Joint Vocational School’s cosmetology program who will provide hairstyling, cosmetics, and manicures for the guests as well as manicures for family members and caregivers in the respite room. She added that a wide cross-section of people will give their time and she was incredibly grateful.
“We couldn’t do this without them,” she added. “Volunteers from every part of the community play a crucial role, and fostering connections among people is at the heart of Tim Tebow's vision. The ultimate goal is to have the community feel invested, and we’ve seen that happen through the diverse group of volunteers. It shows how the community as a whole is investing in our mission [of ‘Building a Community of Belonging’]. You need people to fully invest, not only financially but with their time and effort in helping us build a community of belonging. It’s being valued, respected, and seen.”
Shari Prichard received the initial grant from the Tebow Foundation to hold the festivities and agreed that the volunteers were vital to its success.
“Night to Shine would not be possible without our volunteers. It’s been a tremendous blessing and a surprise how the community has rallied around it for the last three years,” she said. “For a lot of volunteers, it takes them out of their comfort zone, and to see them go through the training and watch them pour out love and kindness, it’s absolutely beautiful.”
She said it has also prompted more interest among community members to take part each year.
“I think when a community recognizes that it’s a selfless event and it doesn’t serve a purpose except loving on people with special needs, it engages them to get themselves out there and show kindness. It’s unbelievable, and every year it continues to grow. People reach out to us throughout the year wanting to be a part of it and doing what they can to help,”
Prichard continued. “We have people with experience with those with special needs and people who had limited experience, and if we do just a little bit we can make a huge difference in people’s lives.”
Pastor Mark Prichard concurred.
“It wouldn’t happen without the volunteers, for sure. To me, it’s a little bit of heaven,” he said. “Its authentic humanity gathered in love and celebrating together. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.”
He added that Shari and West have been “the elbows” of the event with all of the planning, but the volunteers were important as well.
“It’s a wonderful event, and what a ministry Tim Tebow has put together. It glorifies God and that’s the key.”
Officials were appreciative of volunteers such as Alycia Clark and Brianne Schoolcraft, who are respectively providing glam squad members from Bella Cappelli and the JVS, and Toronto City Schools Superintendent Maureen Taggart, who also provided the venue for the prom.
"Our list is always diverse. Some are new and some are third-timers who have volunteered from the inception,” West commented. “These experiences melt away the stereotypes, and the more opportunities and experiences we get to have as a blended community, the more the stereotypes fade away.”
Clark, who serves as regional finance services leader at Bella Cappelli, also has a connection through her son Oliver, who will one day be among the attendants.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to help the community and give something back. The students are all new volunteers while six staff members are returning,” she added, saying those who participated found it to be a life-changing experience. “They love it. Everybody’s always excited and it’s one of the highlights we do at the school. It’s also my favorite event and I’m very excited for Oliver to attend in four years.”
Schoolcraft, who instructs seniors in the JVS cosmetology program, said it was the second year for her pupils to take part.
“It’s been amazing. We had signed up for glam squad and stayed for the dance because it was so rewarding. We were there to volunteer, but they helped us more,” Schoolcraft continued. “Almost all of them have signed up to be a buddy this year. I hope this event never goes away because it’s life-changing. It gives you so much appreciation when you see people who are differently abled be so happy.”
It also marks the second year for Taggart to serve as a buddy, and this time she gets to es**rt her niece Amelia to the fete.
“I love the event. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity to provide to the community to honor and show respect for people who are differently abled,” she noted. “Being in education, I also have gotten to reconnect with current and former students.
They have a fantastic time, the event is top-notch, and they do an amazing job.”
Officials were equally thankful to the donors, which include Jeffco Services, Steel Valley Regional Transit Authority (SVRTA), Franciscan University of Steubenville, Trinity Health System, Kiwanis Club of Steubenville, county Commissioner Eric Timmons, Ace Optical, Petrella Wealth Management, Cardinal Operating Co., United Steelworkers Local No. 5644, Hometown Pediatric Solutions, Apollo Pro Cleaning and Restoration, Medi Home Care, Interstate Waste, Exquisite Creations by Joel, Cedar One Realty and an anonymous contributor. Donations are still being accepted with checks made payable and sent to Crossroads North River Church, 207 N. River Ave., Toronto, Ohio, 43964, and include “Night to Shine 2026” on the memo line. For more information, contact West at (740) 219-9956 or email NorthRiverNightToShine@gmail.com.
Photo Caption:
Efforts are underway for the third-annual Night to Shine, which will be held on Feb. 12 at Toronto Jr./Sr. High School, to give individuals with intellectual and developmental needs a fun evening in a prom setting. Organizers said 100 “honored guests” and 165 volunteers will take part and the volunteers and donors were vital to its success. Pictured are volunteers with the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School cosmetology program and Bella Cappelli Academy glam squad cheering on attendants and their volunteer buddies at the 2025 event. Night to Shine is part of the Tim Tebow Foundation’s worldwide event and is being organized locally by Crossroads North River Church in Toronto and the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
