Tim Tebow arrives at the ESPN Super Bowl XLIX Party on Jan. 30, 2015 in Scottsdale, Ariz."He played for the (Florida) Gators," she said earlier this week. "I'm a Tennessee Vols fan."
Yet if Sullivan isn't quite ready to lessen her lifelong allegiance to the Big Orange, the Heisman Trophy winner definitely is growing on her after his Tim Tebow Foundation decided to sponsor 48 "Night to Shine" proms across the country -- as well as two in African nations -- for special-needs folks such as her 18-year-old daughter Elisabeth.
INFO BOX:
For those who are interested, there are still a few prom spots available for any special-needs person 16 years or older. Several sponsorship spots also remain for local businesses that would like to donate goods or services for goodie bags to make this Night to Shine extra special for the guests of honor. Those wishing to register and those wishing to help should go to stuartheights.org by noon Wednesday. Or contact Lauren Luckhart at laurenluckhart@yahoo.com or 423-774-8311.
"Oh, my goodness," Sullivan said of the prom that will take place next Friday night at Stuart Heights Baptist Church in Hixson. "This is a dream come true."
The dream will be realized by up to 100 people at each of the 50 sites on the same night, including one in Nairobi, Kenya, and one in Jinja, Uganda. Stuart Heights Baptist and a Cookeville site are the only Tennessee locations to host the dance.
Said Tebow in a statement released through the foundation last month: "We are so excited to be able to create this opportunity for thousands of people around the country with special needs. This event perfectly fits our mission to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need."
Added Stuart Heights Baptist's Lauren Luckhart, the event's local director: "The foundation is really passionate about this. For the most part, this is a traditional prom for the people who've heard too many noes in their lives."
How much is it the traditional prom?
"There's a formal dress code because it's a prom," Luckhart explained. "That doesn't mean the guys have to wear tuxes, but we're encouraging people to dress up as much as possible."
There will also be a DJ to keep the dance floor rocking and a full dinner to be enjoyed. Tebow's foundation will provide hair styling and makeup, flowers, professional photography, food, dancing and games.
Each guest also will receive a crown or tiara.
"There will even be a limo to drive them to the entrance, where they'll walk down a long red carpet," Luckhart noted.
"Such a wonderful opportunity," said Valerie Sullivan, who's seen Elisabeth confined to a wheelchair and struggle mentally since birth. "We know she could never go to a normal prom."
There has never been anything normal about Tebow. While his parents were missionaries in the Philippines in 1986, Pam Tebow contracted amoebic dysentery and fell into a coma. Given strong drugs to fight the infection, she was later told she might be wise to have an abortion when it was learned she was pregnant at the time she fell ill.
The Tebows declined despite the threat of serious physical and mental health issues with their unborn son. Of course, when Tim arrived on Aug. 14, he was perfectly normal.
But that stroke of grand luck was never forgotten by his family. Once Tebow graduated from Florida with a couple of national champion rings and a Heisman Trophy, he started the foundation as a way to give back for all he felt he'd been given. Among other projects, the Tim Tebow Foundation builds playrooms in children's hospitals all over the world, grants sick children's wishes and helps facilitate adoptions.
"We've gotten on his website since we learned about 'Night to Shine,'" Valerie Sullivan said. "It's so impressive, all that he does to help others."
There is never enough help for families such as the Sullivans. Properly caring for Elisabeth is a 24/7 job for mother Valerie, father Mark and older sister Jessica. But Elisabeth's night to shine will touch the whole Sullivan clan in more ways than one.
"I think Jessica is more excited about this prom than she was her own prom at Soddy-Daisy High School," Valerie said of her 20-year-old daughter.
And at least part of the time Jessica is helping with her sister at the prom, her parents intend to enjoy a rare date night. "Probably go out to eat," Valerie said.
Of course, no prom is complete without that special dress, and Valerie is pretty sure she found the perfect one a couple of weeks ago.
"It's gold with jewels," she said. "Something fit for a princess."
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.