photo by: Ernesto Maldonado

Trina Waugh, of Leavenworth, interacts with the crowd during the Night to Shine parade in Lawrence on March 25, 2022. The parade honors individuals with special needs.

Hank Booth has been involved with Cottonwood Inc. for more than 40 years, volunteering and serving on its board of directors. In that time he’s gotten to know some of its clients, including a 70-year-old woman named Martha. Recently Booth was able to watch as Martha was crowned queen for Lawrence’s second annual Night to Shine event.

“I’ve known her for at least 30 years, and when Martha was crowned, she was just beaming,” Booth says of the March 25 event. An opportunity like this parade “brings love, and it brings recognition for folks who oftentimes get hidden from view,” he says.

Night to Shine is a national event, founded and supported by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Its purpose is to spend a night celebrating people with special needs. Originally intended to provide a prom, the event has been temporarily restructured because of COVID. Instead of a prom, this year’s Lawrence Night to Shine event featured a parade and homecoming court.

Fire eaters, aerialists, jugglers, the K.C. Wolf, Baby Jay and hundreds of Lawrence community members convened to applaud and support the special needs population as each individual walked down a red carpet and received a sash and a crown or tiara. Cheerleaders, dancers and some drum-line members from Lawrence High School also participated.

Gwen Wedd, director of the Lawrence High School Spirit Squad, said she was delighted to take part in the event.

“I didn’t know what to expect when I got there, but it was amazing,” Wedd says. “The parade started with all the cars, and our cheerleaders, dance members and drum line marched alongside them. … The dancers and cheerleaders created a tunnel for the candidates to walk through, and they had a crown and a sash for each candidate.”

photo by: Ernesto Maldonado

Karias Hall, of Lawrence, enjoys the Night to Shine Parade on March 25, 2022. The parade honors individuals with special needs.

The 74 individuals with special needs who attended the event came from McLouth, Tonganoxie, Valley Falls and Lawrence. River City Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave., spearheaded the event, but five other church congregations attended. The parade launched at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2700 Lawrence Ave., and moved south to River City Church. At least 10 Lawrence businesses donated goods or services. In addition to being crowned king or queen, attendees received a swag bag with items from Eileen’s Cookies, Chic-fil-A, McDonald’s and Club Car Wash.

“We are very proud of the Holcom Park neighborhood,” says Tom Sack, director of Missions and Mobilization for River City Church. “There were probably 200 people on the parade route and at least that many, if not more, in the parking lot. People made and held signs that said things like, ‘You are amazing,’ ‘You are a star,’ ‘You are royalty.’ The community really came out this year.”

photo by: Contributed

Dhru Flory participates in the Night to Shine event for individuals with special needs on March 25, 2022.

Sack hopes the event becomes a Lawrence staple, something the special needs community can depend on and look forward to. He’d like to incorporate the prom element next year.

Booth emceed the event this year, and as the attendees walked down the red carpet, he talked about each guest, sharing fun facts about their favorite songs and hobbies. Booth says emceeing the event was an experience he’d like to repeat.

“If I’m alive and breathing and they need me, I’d be happy to announce anything they want,” Booth says. “I hope we can crown kings and queens for years and years to come. It was just so wonderful to be part of this event and to watch and see these folks recognized and have the fun they were having.”

photo by: Ernesto Maldonado

Friends and family of Karias Hall cheer along the Night to Shine parade route on March 25, 2022, in Lawrence. The parade honors individuals with special needs.

photo by: Contributed

Barbara McEldowney, driven by Louise Shirer, participates in the Night to Shine event for individuals with special needs on March 25, 2022.

photo by: Contributed

Andy Neuhofel cheers on the kings and queens on a Night to Shine on March 25, 2022.