More than 350 big-hearted volunteers from Memphis-are churches banded together to host the first annual Joy Prom for people with special needs to give them an opportunity to experience a beloved high school tradition.

The Daily Mail is reporting on the prom, which was the brain child of Ashley Parks, special needs ministry director of Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis and Ginna Rauls.

Called the “Memphis Joy Prom”, 110 people attended the event, held late last month, which featured limos, gowns, tiaras for all the women and even a red-carpet event emceed by Memphis Grizzlies basketball team announcer, Rick Trotter.

“This was our first one, and it was unbelievable,” Parks told ABC News.

What made this prom different is that it wasn’t just for teens.

“At a certain point people phase out of things but we said, you know what, let’s open this up for people over the age of 22 and think of those who may not have experienced an event like this before,” Parks told the Huffington Post.

This allowed one couple, now in their 60’s, to experience an event neither had the chance to enjoy during their high school years.

Organizers made sure the attendees had a spectacular time – and all of it was free. They held a prom dress donation drive in March to provide gowns for the ladies and a church member offered to cover the tuxedo rentals. There was a make-up station on hand, glittering tiaras and limo service for all. As each attendee arrived and walked down the red carpet, their name was announced by Rick Trotter.

Afterward, one parent wrote organizers a thank you not for loving her children “as much as God loves them.”

“We all cried over it,” Parks said. “It was one of many.”

The evening was such a smashing success, plans for next year’s Joy Prom are already underway.

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