Shine Tucson Inc. · In partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation
You're the Guest of Honor Tonight
Shine Tucson Inc. is a local nonprofit working so that people with disabilities across Southern Arizona have every opportunity to fulfill their potential — and every February, we host Tucson's Night to Shine: a free, unforgettable prom night for guests ages 14 and up.
📅 Friday, February 12, 2027 · Zion City, Tucson
Our 11th year · 400+ honored guests expected · Always free for guests and families
Counting down to the big night
Night to Shine Tucson begins Friday, February 12, 2027 at 6:00 PM Arizona time.
Friday, February 12, 2027 · 6:00 PM · Zion City, Tucson
Doors open at 6:00 PM — exact schedule is being finalized
Who We Are
Shine Tucson Inc.
Shine Tucson Inc. is made up of local nonprofit organizations, professionals, parents, and individuals seeking to expand the services and supports necessary to ensure that people with disabilities have every opportunity to fulfill their potential.
We're a Tucson nonprofit, built by people who live here — many of us parents and caregivers ourselves. Our flagship work is hosting Tucson's Night to Shine each February in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation, alongside a coalition of local host churches.
As we enter our eleventh year, we're stepping into a greater mission: to expand our impact and celebrate even more individuals with special needs across Southern Arizona.
Our Partnership
Night to Shine, hosted here in Tucson
Night to Shine is a free prom night experience for people with disabilities, ages 14 and older, sponsored worldwide by the Tim Tebow Foundation. It's hosted by local churches and organizations around the globe on one single night each year — always the Friday before Valentine's Day.
The first Night to Shine, in 2015, was hosted by 44 churches with 15,000 volunteers, honoring more than 7,000 guests. In February 2026 it was hosted by 979 churches and 210,000+ volunteers across all 50 states and 76 countries, celebrating over 120,000 kings and queens.
Our event's full name is Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, hosted by Shine Tucson Inc.
Why this night matters
Night to Shine isn't meant to be one good night and then silence. It's a starting point — a way for people with disabilities and their families to find a community here in Tucson that keeps showing up all year.
Shine Tucson Inc. is the local host for Tucson. The Tim Tebow Foundation provides the Night to Shine program, standards, and worldwide movement; we raise the funds, recruit and train the volunteers, coordinate our host churches, and put on the night itself for Southern Arizona families.
Every guest is treated like royalty: a red carpet arrival to a cheering crowd, a limousine ride, hair and makeup from a "glam squad," a catered formal dinner, dancing, karaoke, and a crowning ceremony where every single guest is crowned. A sensory/quiet room and a parent-and-caregiver respite room run all evening, so everyone can enjoy the night at their own pace.
About Night to Shine at the Tim Tebow Foundation ↗The 2027 Event
Tucson Night to Shine 2027
Our eleventh year, and our biggest yet — we expect to welcome over 400 honored guests. Each guest is celebrated as a VIP and experiences a night filled with elegance, encouragement, and unforgettable memories.
📅 When
Friday, February 12, 2027
Evening event — exact times to be confirmed
📍 Where
Zion City
2561 W. Ruthrauff Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85705
👑 Who
People with disabilities, ages 14 and older
400+ honored guests expected
💛 Cost
Completely free for every guest and their family — funded by our community partners
Our 2027 Host Churches
This event is made possible through the collaboration of several local churches working together to serve our community:
Trinity Reformed Church of Tucson
Hope Community Church
Journey Church Tucson
Follow along
Registration dates, volunteer calls, and photos from past years all go out here first.
Honored Guests
Register as an Honored Guest
Night to Shine is open to anyone with physical or cognitive special needs, ages 14 and older. There is no upper age limit, no cost, and no invitation required — if you found this page and you'd like to come, you're welcome here.
- Completely free for every honored guest and their parents or caregivers
- A parent, guardian, or caregiver can complete the registration on the guest's behalf
- Tell us about any allergies, dietary needs, mobility, sensory, communication, or medical accommodations when you register, so we can prepare in advance
- You can also reserve a spot in the Respite Room for parents and caregivers when you register
Volunteers
Volunteer for the Night
Night to Shine runs entirely on trained volunteers. Every honored guest is paired one-to-one with a volunteer buddy for the whole evening — so with 400+ guests expected, the buddy team alone is our single biggest need, and it's the heart of the night.
Where you can serve
Beyond buddies, we build out teams across the whole event:
We especially need volunteers fluent in American Sign Language, and people with a background in special education, occupational or physical therapy.
What's required
- A background check for every volunteer 18 and older, whatever the role — no exceptions
- On-site training before the event, including a walk-through of the venue. Training is mandatory for buddies with no exceptions
- Buddies should be at least 16. Volunteers under 18 need a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian, and are paired only with guests under 18
- Buddies 18 and older are paired with guests 18 and older, and we match female buddies with female guests and male buddies with male guests wherever possible
- No experience needed for most roles — we'll train you
Community Partners
Every guest attends free — because of you
Night to Shine costs nothing for honored guests or their families. That's made possible entirely by local supporters, in-kind donors, and individual gifts to Shine Tucson Inc.
Support levels for 2027 run from $225 — which covers one honored guest's entire night — up to the $5,000 Crown Supporter package, with logo placement, event signage, and recognition at the event.
Night-Of Schedule
What to Expect
Sample schedule based on prior years — exact 2027 times will be confirmed closer to the event.
- 5:30 PMVolunteer check-in & final briefing
- 6:00 PMDoors open — red carpet arrival, cheering crowd, paparazzi
- 6:00–6:45 PMCheck-in, glam squad styling, corsage & boutonniere pinning
- 6:45 PMWelcome & opening blessing
- 7:00 PMFormal catered dinner
- 7:30 PMKaraoke opens
- 7:45 PMDancing on the prom floor
- 8:30 PMCrowning ceremony — every guest is crowned
- 8:45 PMClosing dance & farewell
- 9:00 PMEvent ends, guest pickup
Running the whole evening in parallel: a Parent & Caregiver Respite Room with refreshments and activities, and a Sensory / Quiet Room for any guest who needs a low-stimulation break.
About the limo rides: limousines are an activity during the event — short rides with professional drivers, with volunteers riding along. They don't pick guests up at home or take them home afterward, so please plan your own transportation to and from Zion City.
Guest Details & Accommodations
Built for Every Guest
Night to Shine is designed from the ground up for guests with a wide range of physical, sensory, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Here's what that looks like in practice.
The Sensory Room
A quieter space away from the main event, with dimmer lighting and calming activities, for any guest who becomes over-stimulated and needs to rest and regroup before rejoining the fun. Noise-reducing headphones and tactile activities are available, and volunteers are there to sit with guests who want company.
There's also a separate, low-key red carpet entrance for guests who'd rather not walk in through crowds, flash photography, music, and cheering. You can arrive quietly and get settled at your own pace.
The Respite Room
A space just for parents, family members, and caregivers — with a meal, comfortable seating, and a genuine night off, while your guest enjoys the evening with their buddy. Volunteers can escort you to check on your guest whenever you'd like. You can reserve a spot when you register.
Throughout the night
- Wheelchair-accessible entrances, pathways, dance floor, and accessible parking and drop-off
- A trained volunteer buddy paired one-to-one with each guest for the whole evening
- EMTs and law enforcement on site in a designated area for the entire event
- Water stations throughout, and seating around the dance floor for breaks
- Professionally catered food with gluten-free and dairy-free options — tell us about allergies when you register
- No strobe lighting or smoke machines
- Prom attire encouraged but never required — comfort matters most
- Volunteers fluent in American Sign Language paired with guests who are deaf or hard of hearing
Things parents and caregivers should know
- Medication is administered only by a parent or caregiver. Our volunteers and medical staff cannot give any prescribed medication or treatment
- Volunteers never assist with toileting or changing, and never go off alone with a guest. A private changing room with an adult-sized changing table is available for caregivers
- You'll be offered the option to be notified if your guest needs restroom assistance
- Guests are released at the end of the night only to the parent or caregiver with the matching pickup number. Volunteers never transport guests home
- If you'd like to stay with your guest in the main event space, you'll need to register as a volunteer and complete a background check
- Photos are always your choice. If you'd rather your guest not be photographed, tell us at registration — we'll note it on their name tag and their buddy will help them avoid cameras
Have a question about a specific accommodation? Contact us before the event — we'd genuinely rather hear from you early than have you wonder.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Shine Tucson Inc. is a local Tucson nonprofit made up of nonprofit organizations, professionals, parents, and individuals working to expand services and supports for people with disabilities in Southern Arizona. We host Tucson's Night to Shine each February in partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation.
No — we're a separate, independent local nonprofit. The Tim Tebow Foundation sponsors the worldwide Night to Shine program; Shine Tucson Inc. is the local host organization that runs Tucson's event in partnership with them and with our host churches.
A free prom night experience for people with disabilities, ages 14 and up, hosted by local churches and organizations worldwide on the same night each year, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation.
Anyone with a disability who is age 14 or older. There is no cost to attend.
Yes — dinner, the red carpet experience, a corsage or boutonniere, hair/makeup styling, dancing, karaoke, and the crowning ceremony are all provided at no cost to guests, funded entirely by our community partners and donors.
Prom attire is encouraged but not required — dresses, suits, or your guest's favorite dressy outfit are all welcome. Comfort matters most.
Yes — no experience is required. Training is provided, and buddy volunteers must be at least 16 years old. A background check is typically required.
No — each guest is paired with a trained volunteer buddy for the night. Parents and caregivers are welcome in a dedicated Respite Room nearby with refreshments and activities while their guest enjoys the prom.
Yes — a sensory/quiet room is available throughout the event for guests who need a break from noise, lights, or crowds.
No. Registration is open to anyone with special needs, ages 14 and older, whether or not you received an invitation from us or one of our host churches. If you found this page, you're welcome to register.
No. Night to Shine is for guests ages 14 and up, with no maximum age. Guests in their 20s, 50s, and 80s have all been crowned at Night to Shine events.
Only a parent or caregiver can. Our volunteers and on-site medical personnel are not permitted to administer any prescribed medication or treatment. If your guest needs medication at a specific time during the evening, plan to be on site — the Respite Room is a comfortable place to wait.
That's completely fine, and it's your call. Let us know at registration and we'll note it on your guest's name tag, tell their buddy, and make sure they're kept out of event photos and video. Nobody is ever required to sign a media release to attend.
Yes, but you'll need to register as a volunteer and complete a background check first — the same as any other volunteer. That's how we keep every guest in the room safe. If you'd rather relax instead, the Respite Room is right there, and volunteers will walk you over to check on your guest any time you like.
Yes. Shine Tucson Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 41-2578216), so contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We'll send an acknowledgment letter for your records — just let us know if you need one for a specific gift. As always, consult your tax advisor about your own situation.
Get in Touch
Contact Shine Tucson Inc.
Questions about attending, volunteering, supporting, or partnering with us? Reach out and we'll get back to you.
Shine Tucson Inc.
4700 N. Swan Road
Tucson, AZ 85718
Non-Profit Tax ID
41-2578216
Event venue for 2027: Zion City, 2561 W. Ruthrauff Rd., Tucson, AZ 85705. Please send all mail and support checks to the Swan Road address above, not the venue.
Stay in the loop
Don't miss the announcement
Guest registration opens once and fills fast. Follow us and you'll know the day it opens — plus volunteer sign-ups, training dates, and photos from the night itself.
Be Part of the Night
Whether you're registering an honored guest, signing up to volunteer, or partnering with us as a local supporter — Shine Tucson Inc. runs on people like you.