Pure Joy. Unstoppable Smiles. A Night to Shine for Kings and Queens.
Okoa Refuge is honored to partner with the Tim Tebow Foundation to host Night to Shine in Uganda and Kenya on February 13th, creating an unforgettable prom night for children, teens, and adults with disabilities, along with the caregivers who walk beside them every day. On this extraordinary night, guests are crowned kings and queens and reminded, without question, that they are deeply loved and wonderfully made in God’s image.
What is Night to Shine?
A Global Prom Night for God's Kings and Queens
Night to Shine is a worldwide prom experience, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, that celebrates the value and dignity of people with special needs. On one night each year, more than 800+ churches in 60+ countries roll out the red carpet so every guest can be honored, loved, and crowned as a king or queen.
In Uganda and Kenya, Okoa Refuge hosts Night to Shine as an extension of our Christ-centered mission, ensuring that children, teens, and adults with disabilities are not hidden or forgotten, but joyfully seen, loved, and embraced by the community.
From the moment our kings and queens arrive on the red carpet to the final crowning and farewell, the night overflows with:
- Dancing, music, and laughter
- Crowns, tiaras, and flowers
- A formal meal and joyful celebration
- Gospel-centered encouragement shared with sensitivity and care
Every detail proclaims one unshakable truth: every life has immeasurable worth.
How Okoa Refuge Brings Night to Shine to Life
As a Christian nonprofit serving vulnerable children and families in Uganda and East Africa, Okoa Refuge coordinates every detail of Night to Shine, from identifying guests and arranging accessible transportation to decorating the venue, training volunteers, and creating an atmosphere of welcome and celebration. We affectionately call our guests kings and queens, because that is who they are. Each one walks the red carpet to cheers, receives a crown or tiara, dances freely, captures memories through photography, and hears the hope of the Gospel in a way tailored to their unique needs. Night to Shine is not charity. It is a celebration rooted in radical love.
A Night Filled with Crowns, Laughter, and Love
Moments from Okoa’s Night to Shine celebration! Kings and queens arriving with flowers, being crowned, dancing with friends, and sharing the evening with the caregivers who love them. These images capture more than smiles; they reflect dignity restored, joy unleashed, and hearts lifted.
What Flows Out of Night to Shine
The impact of Night to Shine does not end when the music fades. This one evening often becomes a doorway into a lasting relationship and support for families affected by disability. Through Night to Shine, many guests and caregivers are connected to Okoa Refuge’s ongoing ministries, including: disability and physiotherapy support, medical care and referrals, family empowerment programs, and church communities and pastoral care.
Kings and queens return home knowing they are seen and loved. Caregivers leave strengthened, supported, and less alone. Churches and volunteers discover the joy of serving individuals with special needs and continue that passion long after the event ends.
Help Us Fully Fund Night to Shine in East Africa
To create two magical, accessible, and Christ-centered prom nights for kings and queens and their caregivers, we are trusting God to provide $7,000. Your gift helps cover everything. From crowns, corsages, and decor to meals, transportation, accessibility equipment, photography, and caregiver support.
Goal: $7,000 to fully fund two Night to Shine events in Uganda and Kenya.
Honoring the Ones Who Stand Beside Every King and Queen
Behind every king and queen is a caregiver, a parent, sibling, grandparent, guardian, or friend, who faithfully shows up in the hidden, everyday moments. Night to Shine is an event for them, too. Okoa Refuge intentionally creates space for caregivers to exhale, connect with others who understand their journey, and be encouraged by pastors and staff. They receive prayer, meaningful gifts, and the simple gift of watching their loved one be celebrated without limits.
Be Part of This Joyful Movement
Every king and queen deserves a night that reminds them they are loved, seen, and delighted in. Your support makes that night possible. By sponsoring Night to Shine in Uganda, you are not only funding an event. You are proclaiming dignity, advancing the Gospel, and standing with families who are too often overlooked.