On Thursday, February 8, smack in the middle of her busiest stretch of the year, Andreia Boscato Muller worked late into the night, making 80 boutonnieres for a very special prom.
For three years, the owner of The Flower Studio in Altamonte Springs, Florida, has volunteered her services for “Night to Shine,” an international initiative that provides special needs people ages 14 and over with a prom experience. Founded by Heisman Trophy winner and missionary Tim Tebow, the event coincides with Valentine’s Day and aims to show honorees God and their communities love them.
This past Saturday, 532 churches throughout the U.S. and in 16 countries hosted proms with thousands of people volunteering their professional services or as buddies to give honorees a night to remember.
“It’s an absolutely amazing cause,” Muller said. “When you see the looks on the kids’ faces, it melts your heart. It’s so worth five or six hours of my time to make them feel special.”
Muller learned about Night to Shine through a fellow wedding vendor who operates a photo booth. “She said, ‘Hey, I’m doing this thing. Want to get involved?’ so I looked it up,” she recalled. “I’m a Gator fan, so I was excited right off the bat when I saw it involved Tim Tebow. Then, when I saw what it was all about, I was just blown away. How could I say no?”
Muller said the prom she provided flowers for (in Oviedo, Florida) works with several florists and divides requests for centerpieces, boutonnieres, and corsages among them. “They recognize this is crunch time for us and don’t want to overwhelm us,” she said.
Because of the event’s timing, Muller has never been able to attend. But she’s glued to the photos on social media. “They make me so happy,” she said of the honorees’ palpable joy. She added that the event’s organizers tag her business and send lots of thank you notes. “It’s a wonderful community,” she said.