On Friday evening, cheers, laughter and music filled the entrance of Real Life Church in Valencia, as volunteers welcomed people to the Night To Shine prom event for members of the special needs community.

As dance buddies stepped off of party buses, the names of people with different special needs were announced, as they were ushered onto a red carpet for a grand entrance into Real Life Church’s Night to Shine event, which lasted from 5 to 9 p.m.

Zoya Alam/KHTS News

“Our friends who have special needs, we’ve heard that, as they get older, they have less events like this designated for them,” said Pastor Kevin Finkbiner. “This is why we exist as a Church – to be able to care for people, to serve people in our city, and to put on a night like this.”

The Real Life Church partnered with Fun Life, a ministry who works with men and women with special needs, to coordinate the prom.

At the event, honored guests with special needs checked in, and walked through many stations, including hair and makeup for women and girls, and shoe shining for men and boys.

Zoya Alam/KHTS News

Tranquility Salon and Spa and Eighth and Main Hair Lounge collaborated with Real Life Church to provide hair and makeup services for the event.

Zoya Alam/KHTS News

“We all just felt really inspired to do something for the community. Since beauty and makeup and hair is all of our forte, we decided to lend our talents,” said Lahoma Cronk, owner of Tranquility Salon and Spa.

Young women smiled as they got their hair and makeup done. “It is very rewarding,” said Kristine Caulk, a volunteer hair stylist at the event.

Zoya Alam/KHTS News

This event is the first Night to Shine hosted in-person since the pandemic, according to Finkbiner, with last year’s event held as a drive through, due to pandemic restrictions.

“This is our second in-person big prom,” said Finkbiner.”Now we are back, and we just couldn’t be happier to be able to put on the event tonight.”

Zena Taher/KHTS News

It has taken seven months of planning to pull off the event, according to Finkbiner, and 200 volunteers were present serving at the event. Over 260 guests of honor were present, including special needs men and women and their buddies.

Zena Taher/KHTS News

Dixie Castall, a volunteer at Real Life Church for 4 years, was checking in guests.

“I think it is incredible for them [special needs women and men] to experience prom. To be able to do all the things we’ve done before,” said Castall. “Every single person I’ve seen is beyond excited, through the roof,  10 out of 10, to be treated like a queen and king for the night. Everyone seems to really want to dance.”

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