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Sometimes, the simplest acts bring the purest joy.

We saw that on Thursday, when the Miss-Lou gathered for the Brightest Stars ball.

This annual event is the brainchild of Ronnie Calhoun, who was inspired by his passion for serving special needs children and adults and having volunteered with a Tim Tebow-sponsored Night to Shine event in California.

When he returned to the Miss-Lou, he sought to replicate the experience and tailor it to our community.

“I didn’t want it to be about a particular church, didn’t want it to be black or white, Catholic or Baptist,” Calhoun said. Instead, the community-based foundation is open to all special needs individuals in the Miss-Lou and surrounding areas. In 2019, 28 guests participated. More than 75 stars took part in Thursday’s event and more than 350 people joined in, both as buddy volunteers and as supporters.

The event was truly remarkable.

The simple act of inviting the special guests to dress up and walk down a red carpet – escorted by volunteer buddies who spent the evening with the guests – brought wide smiles, gleeful dances and biggest hugs all around.

Simple and pure joy.

And everyone – from volunteers to participants to spectators – felt that joy.

Thank you, to the board members, volunteers and patrons who support the Brightest Stars ball and the year-round events the foundation is developing for our special needs individuals in the Miss-Lou.

It’s a shining example of the best of our shared humanity.