--- title: A Night to Shine description: "David and Mercedes Rizzo reflect on \"A Night to Shine,\" the Tim Tebow Foundation's special evening for special-needs teens." image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-F.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/03/27/a-night-to-shine/#) # A Night to Shine Mar 27, 2019 2:00:50 PM  |  by [David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/david-and-mercedes-rizzo) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-F.jpg) [!["A Night to Shine" by David and Mercedes Rizzo (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-IMG_3723.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-IMG_3723.jpg) Copyright 2019 David and Mercedes Rizzo. All rights reserved.[/caption] Tim Tebow – football player, committed Christian, and all-around great guy – is a big supporter of people with special needs. Tim Tebow’s Night To Shine honors people with special needs all over the world. The event is hosted by churches across the United States and internationally and takes place in multiple locations on the same night around the globe. This past February our daughter Danielle was one of the attendees. The theme was “A Night to Shine.” What a magical night it turned out to be! [!["A Night to Shine" by David and Mercedes Rizzo (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-IMG_3685.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-IMG_3685.jpg) Copyright 2019 David and Mercedes Rizzo. All rights reserved.[/caption] There were many fun and exciting things for the young people to do. Upon arriving, the girls were “glammed up” by having their hair and make-up done by one of the many volunteer helpers on site. Boys received carnations for their lapels. Next, they took a limousine drive to the main entrance, where parents and loved ones cheered as their children walked the red carpet like movie stars at an awards show or gala. They made their way into the banquet hall for dinner and dancing. [!["A Night to Shine" by David and Mercedes Rizzo (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-IMG_3704.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-IMG_3704.jpg) Copyright 2019 David and Mercedes Rizzo. All rights reserved.[/caption] Parents were treated to a dinner of their own in a different building on-site. This was a great opportunity to meet new people in a relaxed setting. We made several new friends that evening as we talked about our lives and traded stories. While we ate we were able to see our kids on a big video screen, dancing and having a wonderful time. After a while, we walked over to the dance to join our children. We could see by the many happy faces that the evening was a big success. Tim Tebow should be congratulated for organizing an event like this on a world-wide scale and giving people with special needs a night to shine. We can’t wait ‘til next year. [!["A Night to Shine" by David and Mercedes Rizzo (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-IMG_3688.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/0327-Rizzo-IMG_3688.jpg) Copyright 2019 David and Mercedes Rizzo. All rights reserved.[/caption] --- *Copyright 2019 David and Mercedes Rizzo* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Fa-night-to-shine%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Fa-night-to-shine%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Fa-night-to-shine%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=A%20Night%20to%20Shine) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Fa-night-to-shine%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Fa-night-to-shine%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/DAVID%20AND%20MERCEDES%20RIZZO.jpeg) ### [David and Mercedes Rizzo](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/david-and-mercedes-rizzo) David and Mercedes write and speak from a faith perspective as parents of a child with autism. They are available to speak, and have appeared on radio and other media. Visit [DavidAndMercedesRizzo.com](http://davidandmercedesrizzo.com) to learn more. Follow them on Facebook at [Autism With The Rizzos](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Autism-With-The-Rizzos/281489198616138?ref=tn_tnmn). Authors of *Praying For Your Special Needs Child*, (Word Among Us Press) and [*Spiritually Able* and *The Adaptive First Eucharist Preparation Kit*](http://www.loyolapress.com/search-result.aspx?s=rizzo) (Loyola Press). ## Related Blog Articles [ Angels At Work Here Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/02/27/angels-at-work-here/) [ The Tradition Is That Of A Winner Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/10/24/the-tradition-is-that-of-a-winner/) [ Bringing Hope to Others Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/bringing-hope-to-others) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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