Five years ago we began a special needs prom, Evening of Dreams, in Sacramento, CA at Capital Christian Center. Our goal is to reach out to the special needs community in a tangible way and to bring inclusion to teens and young adults with disabilities. These individuals so often are excluded from activities that are “normal” for many other students their age.  We knew that this wasn’t right and it wasn’t something that we would stand for so in 2009 the Evening of Dreams prom was born.

Our Prom is a red carpet event for teens and young adults with disabilities who are escorted by area athletes and student leaders, complete with photographers, dinner and dancing. The goal is to create a prom experience with the ability to provide for a variety of special needs. Our guests enjoy an escort throughout the evening as well as the opportunity for hair styling, make-up, formal pictures, music, and a night for dinner and dancing.

We not only want provide a first class evening for our special guests, but also bring awareness to those who have a voice and influence in their school or community that come as volunteers that can take back what they’ve experienced and make a difference on their school campus and in the community. We desire to bring awareness to special needs as well as inclusion for each and every guest that attends.

Over the years we have returning guests that count down the days until next years event and athletes that go away to college and return home early to take part in an event that has changed their lives for the better. The one thing that is abundantly clear is that when given a chance and included, kids will just be kids.

We have been so privileged to be able to walk out life with our guests and volunteers and can say they have changed our lives on a daily basis.  Their hearts and openness to love and be loved is so unique and it is a blessing to everyone that they meet.