This past weekend, we were thrilled to welcome one of our most popular community events back to Jericho. In partnership with the Tim Tebow Foundation, Seeds of Hope held the West Bank’s only Night to Shine.
In 2023, when we held this event for the first time, it made waves throughout Jericho. It was a first-of-its-kind event for our area and was even covered by the local news! After being unable to host it last year due to the war, we were so grateful to bring Night to Shine back in 2025.
Night to Shine is an event designed to show teens and young adults with special needs God’s love by giving them an unforgettable night. Churches and organizations worldwide literally roll out the red carpet for their guests of honor, and we were thrilled to host the event in partnership with our friends at Emmanuel Church.
We took over one of Jericho’s nicest hotel ballrooms and turned it into a night so great that no one wanted to leave! We treated each guest of honor to special pampering and a walk on the red carpet with adoring “fans” and professional photographers. Every girl wore a tiara, and every boy wore a traditional fez, or Tarboosh, that’s given to a dignitary or guest of honor at an event. It was a night of dancing, celebration, and absolute joy.
When we first held the event in 2023, some of our guests were initially hesitant. As Muslims, they were unsure, knowing a Christian church helped host the event. But after they experienced the impact of Night to Shine, they were eager to return this year.
We welcomed 75 teenagers and young adults, along with their loved ones, to set aside their struggles for one evening and simply enjoy themselves. With a range of disabilities, including individuals who are blind, deaf, use a wheelchair, or have Down syndrome, these families are used to being overlooked by society. But at Night to Shine, they were the guests of honor.
One young girl named Zekra attended Night to Shine for the first time. She typically does not enjoy going to big events or large gatherings, even missing out on family weddings. She often feels on the outside because of her disability. But at Night to Shine, Zekra felt accepted at home.
She was having so much fun dancing that she chose to remove her hijab so she could get her hair done and enjoy the party with her friends. While this is a big step in Muslim culture, her family was fully supportive and excited to see her come alive and feel so accepted.
Night to Shine embodies so much of what Seeds of Hope is all about: serving our community, elevating the overlooked, and building connections of love and hope. And this night brought even more families into contact with our organization.
We were so grateful to partner with the Tim Tebow Foundation to bring Night to Shine back to Jericho. It is one of our favorite new traditions, and we’re already planning for 2026!
