by Alvernia University
Community Evangelical Church (CEC) and Alvernia University partnered to bring the Tim Tebow Foundation’s Night to Shine back to Berks County for the first time since 2020 on Friday, Feb. 9. The event, celebrated by hundreds of churches of different denominations worldwide is designed to provide an unforgettable prom night experience for people aged 14 and older with special needs.
“Alvernia is committed to personal and social transformation through integrated, community-based inclusive excellence, making this event a fit for the Office of Accessibility Services and the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement’s partnership with the CEC,” said Vice President of Mission, Diversity, and Inclusion, Darryl Mace, Ph.D. “This is also the debut event for the Holleran Corps initiative geared toward instilling a lifelong commitment to service in participating students, making the event that much more special. Over 450 Alvernia students, faculty, staff, senior leaders, and community volunteers dedicated their time to ensure our guests had a wonderful prom.”
One hundred sixty honored guests were present in person, and 15 tuned in to experience the event virtually, along with 210 parents and caregivers. Every guest received hair and makeup services, shoe-shining, limousine rides, corsages, and boutonnieres upon arrival, courtesy of the volunteers and event sponsors. The guests entered on the red carpet and received a catered dinner before heading to the dance floor, where additional “buddy” volunteers met them.
“We want our honored guests to know they are loved and valued by God. We initially got involved with Night to Shine because we were impressed by the passion and heart that Alvernia University and the Tim Tebow Foundation share for this incredible event,” said CEC Associate Pastor Tim Sanger. “We are honored to team up with both organizations to celebrate these honored individuals in our community and can’t wait to give them a ‘Night to Shine.’”
Guests also had access to a sensory room managed by Alvernia occupational therapy students as an experiential learning opportunity. as well as an activity room managed by Education Corps volunteers in the Holleran Corps throughout the event. A respite room was available for parents and caregivers. President Glynis A. Fitzgerald, Ph.D., and City of Reading Mayor Eddie Moran crowned the kings and queens of the prom before one last dance at the end of the night.
“The University holds to the ideal of ‘knowledge joined with love.’ Night to Shine is focused on love for the honored guests and their families,” said Director of Accessibility Services, Andrea Swift, Ed.D., who has volunteered at Night to Shine events in PA since 2016. “Our students had the pleasure of sharing an incredible night celebrating unique individuals and ensuring that they know how valuable they are. Alvernia students also had the opportunity to put their knowledge they have learned in the classroom into practice as they helped with this community event.”
Alvernia University is a Catholic comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1958. The university serves over 3,000 students in Reading, Pottsville, and Philadelphia with a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts education, strong technical training in many high-demand majors, ever-expanding experiential learning opportunities through study abroad and internship experiences, and community engagement through its Franciscan-based community service model.
The Tim Tebow Foundation exists to bring Faith, Hope, and Love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. Since its inception in 2010, the ministry has served some of the world’s Most Vulnerable People across more than 80 countries and counting. This mission is fulfilled daily through ministry outreach focused on Orphan Care + Prevention, Special Needs, Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation, and Profound Medical Needs. To learn more, visit www.timtebowfoundation.org.
Community Evangelistic Church (CEC) is a church of disciples who make disciples. The CEC is affiliated with the Evangelical Congregational Church, a global community of over 600 congregations worldwide committed to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that men, women, and children may experience saving faith in Christ.
