In a recent appearance on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon,” outspoken Christian athlete Tim Tebow opened up about one of his most beloved charitable initiatives, “Night to Shine.”
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“Night to shine is a worldwide prom for people with special needs,” Tebow explained. “We had over 200,000 volunteers. We crowned over 100,000 people as either ‘King’ or ‘Queen’ of the prom.”
According to the Tim Tebow Foundation, Night to Shine 2019 marked the fifth anniversary of the event and was “hosted by 655 churches across all 50 states and in 24 countries.” Not only was it a night of getting dressed up, dancing and posing for glamorous photos, but each and every participant also got the chance to walk down the famed red carpet. The red carpet, a staple at any prestigious Hollywood film premiere, was an absolute centerpiece of each and every event, Tebow explained.
“In today’s society, red carpets signify excellence, meaning and ‘VIP,'” explained the former footballer-turned-baseball-player. “On this night, in my eyes, and I believe in God’s eyes, they are the VIP’s.”
Tebow explained that during the course of the evening, the prom kings and queens walked “down a red carpet, with fake paparazzi on both sides.”
“We celebrate them,” he added. “We know what it’s like to be celebrated, but a lot of times they’ve never been cheered for.”
The goal, Tebow noted, was to remind these wonderful individuals that they are deeply loved and appreciated by others, and most importantly, by God.
“I believe that it changes someone’s identity when they believe that they are important, valued and loved,” he said. “I want them to feel that way.”
Watch Tebow’s full “Tonight Show” appearance above.