Dairy Queen in Gray raising money for Night to Shine prom

The fundraiser will help Bradley Baptist Church cover the cost of its annual prom for people with disabilities.

GRAY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Dairy Queen owner in Gray is working to raise more than $20,000 to help make an annual prom for people with disabilities possible.

Justin Kelly, owner of Dairy Queen in Gray, is organizing a fundraiser Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. to support Night to Shine, an event hosted by Bradley Baptist Church in Jones County.

Night to Shine was founded by the Tim Tebow Foundation and gives people with disabilities the opportunity to attend a prom designed especially for them. Guests receive the royal treatment, including limousine rides, a red carpet entrance, dinner, dancing and a special crowning ceremony where every guest is named king or queen.

For Trenton Garrett, the event is something he looks forward to every year.

“I love Night to Shine,” Trenton said.

His father, Steven Garrett, says watching his son enjoy the experience is special for their family.

“They give them the royal treatment,” Steven said. “They have limos, they do a huge walk in for them. You know, they get crowned king or queen of the prom. I mean, they just go all out.”

Bradley Baptist Church has hosted Night to Shine for nine years. Pastor Steve Johnson said the church initially applied to host the event and was turned down twice before receiving approval. With only a few months to prepare, church members and community volunteers came together to raise money and organize the first event.

Johnson said the celebration is also an opportunity to recognize the caregivers who support people with disabilities.

For the past two years, the church provided caregivers with restaurant vouchers so they could enjoy dinner while their loved ones attended the prom. This coming year, organizers plan to host a separate gathering at Butler Hall, featuring a catered dinner, live entertainment and a DJ.

The event takes hundreds of volunteers to organize. Each guest is paired with a volunteer buddy who stays with them throughout the night, whether they want to dance, sing karaoke or visit the photo booth.

Organizers said last year’s Night to Shine welcomed 130 guests and more than 400 volunteers.

Kelly said funding for events like Night to Shine has become more difficult to secure, making community support especially important.

“It takes a little over $20,000 just to do it, basically,” he said. “After that, anything that we can raise above and beyond, we can just make it a nicer event for them.”

During Sunday’s fundraiser, every dollar spent at the Dairy Queen in Gray between 6 and 9 p.m. will go toward Night to Shine. Kelly also said three other business owners plan to match the sales during the fundraiser. Additional private donations will also go toward the event.

Organizers are accepting registrations for guests and volunteers through the Night to Shine website hosted by Bradley Baptist Church. Space is limited, and a waiting list will be available once registration reaches capacity.

Night to Shine will take place in February at Bradley Baptist Church.