As a native of Tallahassee, Florida, Cash Hunter is a longtime fan of the hometown Florida State Seminoles. There came a time, however, when he made allowances to pull for the opposing side.

"I was never a big fan of Florida,'' he said. "But I was a fan of Tim Tebow. And I've been following the Tim Tebow Foundation since it started.''

That's a good thing since Hunter, an associate minister at Fayetteville Christian Church for more than three years, will be helping to lead Fayetteville's inaugural Night to Shine on Feb.10 in the church's multipurpose building.

And, after all, there's no room for rivalries in this endeavor. It's a win-win for all involved.

"In fact, we knew from the get-go that our church couldn't pull it off alone,'' Hunter said. "Our goal is to make this event bigger than just one church. We are just the host site.''

The event, sponsored by the nonprofit Tim Tebow Foundation, gives people with special needs the chance to attend a prom-like event.

There will be sparkly gowns, freshly shined shoes, corsages and boutonnieres, jewelry, makeup, special hairstyles, portrait sessions and, thanks to local businesses, overstuffed goody bags.

Every guest enters on a red carpet lined with cheering onlookers. Once inside, guests can have their hair and makeup done, their shoes shined and their corsages pinned. Then the dancing begins.

"I'm so excited,'' said Brittany Jackson Lockamy. She signed up to serve as a volunteer for the event and registered her sister Lindsey to attend. "She's been to little dances and things, but never to anything like this.''

Night to Shine, now in its third year, helps host at more than 200 churches all over the United States. One of those churches, San-Lee Chapel in Sanford, will serve as a host for a second year. San-Lee had 100 attend last year; that number has grown to 200 this year and will move to the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.

Fayetteville hairstylist April Ann Burks is serving as a volunteer for the Sanford event, having recently hauled a load of glittery pink prom dresses uk to be used for the event.

"They have a place set up behind the church called Timmy's Closet,'' Burks said. "People can go in and pick out dresses, shoes, everything. I had no idea it was so big.''

Organizers for the Fayetteville event are still in need of dresses ahead of an event scheduled Sunday. That's when Night to Shine attendees can come select a special dress for the occasion.

"And any dresses that aren't used will be donated to another organization,'' Hunter said. "With prom season coming up, we're planning to pay it forward.''

Like all participating churches, Fayetteville Christian Church has been hard at work recruiting volunteers to serve as "buddies'' for the attendees assuring everyone has someone for dancing and having fun. Volunteers are still needed for a variety of duties, including doing everything from makeup to hair to the cha-cha.

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