Visitor commission approves $5,000 reimbursement grant for Night to Shine prom for people with special needs

Visitor commission members approved a $5,000 reimbursement grant on a motion to support Night to Shine, a Tim Tebow Foundation–affiliated prom for people with special needs that will be held Feb. 13, 2026, at Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Night to Shine is a community prom organized locally with a committee of about 10 volunteers and uses Lakeview Middle School for hair, makeup and registration before guests are transported by limo to the church for dinner, dancing, karaoke and photos, the presenter told the commission.

The organizer said the event drew 167 registrants in 2025 and is targeting about 175 guests in 2026. About 300 volunteers assist each year; when volunteers, guests and family are present the event brings roughly 450–500 people into the building for the evening. The presenter said the event operates on a roughly $20,000 total budget and that the estimated cost for food this year is $5,850; organizers had raised $3,542 toward that item before the commission meeting.

Commission discussion focused on whether the event counts as a “quality of life” tourism draw and whether marketing dollars could increase volunteer recruitment and out‑of‑county attendance. A board member suggested adding marketing dollars to future requests so promotional video and photography could be used to recruit both volunteers and sponsors; the presenter said videography is used annually to produce highlight videos that are shared publicly.

On a motion and second, the commission approved the $5,000 reimbursement grant as presented. The chair reminded the organizer that the grant is reimbursement based and that receipts must be submitted for payment.

The commission did not modify the approved amount or add conditions beyond the standard reimbursement requirement.