DAYTONA BEACH — Courtney Widdison of Port Orange was ready for prom in her pale pink gown and sparkling tiara — all she needed was someone to escort her into the dance.

Tim Tebow fit the bill perfectly.

The celebrity athlete and sports broadcaster made an appearance at the prom coined "Night to Shine" that was held Friday night for about 160 teens and adults with special needs and hundreds of volunteers at the Jim W. Henderson Administration building on Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's campus.

The event is celebrated internationally and was created by the Tim Tebow Foundation to give participants, who would not otherwise have a dance catered to them, a chance to be treated like royalty from the moment they arrive — walking inside on a red carpet, smiling for paparazzi and receiving crowns or tiaras to wear all night.

Tebow talked to Widdison, 24, during their red carpet stroll, and Widdison described it as "exciting" once they arrived inside the Embry-Riddle building to the dance floor, photo booth, karaoke stand and throne where the "kings" and "queens" could take pictures. Widdison said she told Tebow, the former Florida Gators quarterback, that she was a Gators fan.

Tebow addressed the crowd after about 30 minutes of pictures with the participants. Gary LeVox, the lead vocalist of the country trio Rascal Flatts and a close friend of Tebow's, was also there to greet everyone and sing a song from the group's new album.

"All of our kings and queens, you get to shine tonight," Tebow said to the crowd. "That is why we go through all this work to crown every single one of you as kings or queens because that's how we believe God views you every single day of your life."

The prom experience is always hosted by a church, and last year, 201 churches in 48 states and seven countries provided the prom night for individuals with special needs, according to the foundation. This year, the event will occur at 375 host churches in all 50 states and 11 countries.

Volusia County's prom for people with special needs was hosted and organized by Christ Presbyterian Church in Ormond Beach. Each year, Tebow chooses a few Night to Shine events to fly to, and by 6 p.m. EST on Friday, Tebow had already been to proms in Texas and Colorado. After Daytona Beach, he headed to Jacksonville.

Lance Avery of Ormond Beach was able to attend the dance for the first time this year since he just turned 16. All participants must be 16 years or older.

Before the dance Friday night, Avery found a black suit jacket and red tie in the “glitter closet” at Christ Presbyterian, which is a room of dresses and formal wear free of charge for the participants that were all donated by the community.

Annie Milward, Avery’s mom, said he loves dressing up and dancing.

“He won’t stop (dancing) until the night’s done,” she said.

Mandy Brock of Ormond Beach was one of the leading voices behind bringing the event to Daytona Beach. Mandy, 17, has a twin sister, Casey, with autism. Mandy said she wanted her sister to have a prom experience just like she gets, so she contacted the Tim Tebow Foundation to bring it to the area. Last year was the first year it was held for Volusia participants.

Friday night, Casey wore black slacks and a silver tunic — she doesn't like dresses, according to her mom, Jane Brock — and was escorted into the dance by an Embry-Riddle Navy ROTC member. Cheerleaders from Embry-Riddle escorted the "kings" up the red carpet. Inside the building, Mandy began to cry when she saw Tebow and posed for a picture with him and her sisters.

Mandy's vision was that the celebration would provide high school-aged kids in the area with special needs a chance to experience prom and have a night that was catered to them. But that vision quickly spread and now includes group homes and other agencies that provide services to individuals of all ages with special needs.

Christ Presbyterian Pastor Chris Chandler jumped on the idea to organize the yearly event. His own son, Caleb, has Down syndrome.

“We are celebrating the fact that so often people say there is something wrong with you, and we’re saying, ‘No, you’re perfect,'" Chandler said about those with special needs. "That’s a message they don’t hear enough.”