09/26/2026
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Support Gives Individuals a Night to Shine
STEUBENVILLE-Local support has made it possible to continue the annual Night to Shine festivities for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and the need goes on as the event nears its fourth year.
Organizers said volunteers and financial support have been crucial to providing a prom-like experience for about 100 honored guests, and funding is especially needed this time since the tiered grant through the Tim Tebow Foundation has ended. Night to Shine, which is locally hosted by Crossroads North River Church in Toronto and the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, has been held at Toronto Jr./Sr. High School since 2022. Next year’s event is scheduled for Feb. 12 and will allow local individuals to dress in their finery and enjoy dinner, dancing, limousine rides, and a red-carpet greeting from paparazzi and a crowd of cheering supporters, plus they will also receive crowns and tiaras as kings and queens of the night.
JCBDD Community Relations Specialist Cookie West is sharing organizational duties with Crystal Wickham of Crossroads North River Church, as well as Dana Troski and Alycia Clark and is excited to create another unforgettable event.
“I’m super excited that we’re moving forward with planning and coordination. The beauty of the dedication to this event is the support shown by the community and the volunteers,” West said. “Alycia, Crystal, and Dana have been there from the beginning and they have emerged to become a vital part of its success. You have to have people with dedication, and it aligns with [JCBDD’s] motto of ‘Building a Community of Belonging.’ By being willing to answer the call as volunteers, it has helped them become advocates for inclusion.”
She said volunteers have made a huge impact on the night’s success, with about 165 people giving their time as buddies to es**rt the individuals or handle other duties, from working in the Care for the Caregiver respite room to being part of the Glam Squad. The latter has primarily been done by students from the Bella Cappelli Academy and seniors in the cosmetology program at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School, but West said a large percentage of volunteers do return each year and help is always needed.
“We need more people to volunteer so they can become more educated about the lives of people who are disabled,” she said.
Crystal Wickham, who is succeeding longtime coordinator Shari Prichard as representative for Crossroads North River Church, began as a buddy and later became a social navigator, working in the respite room and supporting guests. She was excited for her new role and hopes to carry on Prichard’s work supporting the cause.
“This is the first year I will work hand-in-hand with organizers,” Wickham said, adding that West and Prichard had discussed her as Prichard’s replacement. “It’s a very important role and it’s really exciting, especially when someone’s telling you they chose you.”
Meetings have been held to plan the annual event, and she said Night to Shine has impacted her.
“It’s hard to put into words. The first year I decided to volunteer, I told my husband that it fills you with something you cannot describe. He volunteered the next year and said I was right. You have to experience it to understand, and the joy you feel by being part of it and the joy you see…, you feel so blessed when you are there. It just makes you see the simple joys, and it’s amazing.”
Troski said she was inspired to volunteer and it has had a profound effect.
“It’s honestly my favorite night of the year. Seeing every guest feel included, it’s definitely the best night and you leave them feeling so much joy,” she said. “It’s super exciting and every year we work to do something better. It’s a fun group, and I’m excited to spend time with all of the honored guests. You truly leave there better than when you came. It reminds you how much love and goodness there is, and people wanting to volunteer is a breath of fresh air.”
She has helped operate the respite room for family members and caretakers, providing food, information, and some self-care, with students from Bella Cappelli offering manicures and massages. Businesses have also donated gift cards and other goodies for raffles, and the event is livestreamed to a television in the room for loved ones to watch.
Clark has served on the executive committee since the beginning and her roles have included leading the Glam Squad and the respite room.
“Giving back to this community is so important to me. I have an 11-year-old son with Level 3 nonverbal autism and Type 1 Diabetes, and I am part of the Special Connections group, which serves individuals of all ages and abilities,” she said. “We work hard to ensure the night is perfect for every attendee. It is more than worth it! I am so happy to work with such an amazing team of volunteers to make this night a success for all.”
Clark commented that being a part of Night to Shine means so much, especially knowing that her son will one day be an honored guest.
“I want this experience to be special for every single attendee, just as much as I want it to be special for him when he eventually attends. Everyone deserves to feel like a queen or king, and I am honored to be a part of that.”
Her work with Bella Cappelli students has also brought enthusiasm among those who participate.
“They absolutely love it and look forward to it each year! I know that we are there to help the guests feel good, but the honored guests are actually the ones helping all of us. They make us want to be better humans,” Clark said. “Being in the special needs world, it sometimes feels like families like ours can be on an island alone. A lot of people don’t know or understand what our loved ones with disabilities go through each day. At the same time, many people don’t realize that even if someone has a different ability, they still want to have a blast, dance with their friends, and be celebrated. I love that people from our community are able to be alongside us in this and see the beauty in what the night is all about.”
Academy representatives also shared their views about the experience.
“As an educator for Bella Cappelli, I am honored to be a part of Night to Shine,” said Desiree Kruzelyak, education leader and Night to Shine volunteer. “It gives our future professionals an opportunity to give back to this amazing community of people. NTS is truly changing lives, and we are happy to be just a small part of that. We strive to make every honored guest feel like royalty! Everyone leaves our Glam Room smiling and feeling beautiful, and ready for their magical night ahead.”
“Being a part of Night to Shine provides our future professionals with a remarkable opportunity to make a significant impact in the community. They get the chance to hone their technical skills while forming lasting connections with the honored guests,” added Kaitlyn Lanham, school director and fellow volunteer. “This evening leaves an incredible mark on our hearts. It’s an honor and a privilege to be involved and witness the transformative power of Night to Shine.”
Meanwhile, West noted that sponsorships and other donations have helped support the event, and that the event hopes to offer what they call king or queen sponsorships for the honored guests next year. They are seeking not just corporate sponsors but individuals, families, and/or churches to sponsor our honored guests. The community can sponsor a king or queen for $100 per person to help cover expenses for clothing and other essentials to make their night magical.
“We want more community participation with sponsorships of individual guests. We have a list of sponsors [for the evening]; however, this is an opportunity for families and individuals to personalize their support, and we’re looking at the long term. What better way to invest in someone else's joy.”
She said sponsorships and previous Tim Tebow Foundation grants have made the events possible to hold for free, but the grant amount is reduced annually. Prom costs have exceeded $20,000 and organizers hoped to use public support to keep them going.
“We received a tiered grant for the first three years, and by year four they look to be a self-sustaining community event,” she explained. “We are looking for monetary or in-kind donations, and we have been blessed to grow our sponsorship network, but we have seen cost increases with inflation. We hope to grow in the future with more sponsorships and build upon the guest list.”
Monetary donations are accepted by check, which are payable to Crossroads North River Church with “Night to Shine” on the memo line. They may be sent to the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, 250 John Scott Highway, Steubenville, Ohio, 43952. For more information, contact West at (740) 219-9956.
(Photo Caption: Volunteers and financial support continue to help the annual Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine prom for disabled individuals grow, and this year the need is especially important. Organizers say more help is always needed and volunteers share in the joy, while the event must also be self-sustaining following a reduction in foundation grant funding. Community members may sponsor an honored guest for $100 to pay for clothing and related expenses to make their night magical. For more information, contact Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities Community Relations Specialist Cookie West at (740) 219-9956.)
