Kooper gave up his trip to Disneyland to take his classmate with special needs to a magical prom!
Kooper Richardson was looking forward to his senior trip to Disneyland. But when he learned a special needs student needed a date to a special dance, he ditched his plans!
With prom season in full swing, Jennifer Thompson reminded her 16-year-old daughter’s dad, “The junior prom is coming up. You’ll have to be her date again, like at homecoming.”
Although Maddie—who was a toddler when she was diagnosed with a rare brain anomaly causing daily seizures and learning disabilities—attends regular school and belongs to the Sparkle Squad, a group of special needs students who dance and
Would you like to go to Evening of Dreams with me? “You are worthy of your wildest dreams.” Nicole Guillaume
cheer at games, the Folsom, California, mom knew there was a big difference between kids inviting Maddie to sit at their lunch table and asking her on a date.
Then one night, Jennifer received an e-mail from one of Maddie’s teachers including an invitation to an event called Evening of Dreams (Eveningof Dreams.com), a gala for kids with special needs that recruits students from area high schools as dates.
“I’m all in!” 6'6" Folsom High football player Kooper Richardson had offered when he learned about the big dance and his potential date. “Maddie has cheered the team on every game I’ve played!” he told his folks, and even when he learned the dance was the same night as his senior trip to Disneyland, he told his mom, “This is more important.”
A few days later, Maddie was chatting with friends before an assembly when Kooper emerged from behind the curtain carrying flowers and candy. “Would
you like to go to the Evening of Dreams with me?” he asked.
“Yes!” she exclaimed, while Jennifer—who’d been invited to secretly watch—burst into happy tears.
Soon after, as Maddie spun before the mirror trying on gowns that the Evening of Dreams organization provided, her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“You look beautiful!” Jennifer exclaimed when Maddie slipped into a shimmering white gown.
“I feel like a princess! I can’t wait for prom night!” she beamed.
Luckily, Maddie didn’t have long to wait. When the evening arrived, Kooper rang the doorbell and presented her with a corsage.
“Your chariot awaits,” he said gallantly, and they drove off in a classic sports car on loan for the evening.
Maddie and Kooper walked the red carpet to the “Superhero” themed Evening of Dreams party. Inside, they discovered a sumptuous buffet, karaoke and plenty of games. But Maddie had only one request: “All I want to do is dance!” she said.
Kooper happily led his date onto the dance floor. The couple stepped and swayed to fast songs and slow ones. And just when Maddie thought the evening couldn’t get any better, they announced the Prom Queen.
“Me?” Maddie exclaimed, hardly daring to believe.
“Yes, you!” Kooper confirmed, and Maddie was floating on air.
That night, Maddie couldn’t stop smiling. Modeling her Prom Queen crown and sash for Jennifer, she blurted, “My prom was a dream come true!”
A dream come true for both of us, Jennifer thought.
Happily, Maddie’s prom night was not a once-in-a-lifetime experience: Kooper has already asked to take her to this year’s big dance. And this time, he won’t be the only football player in attendance. Now a freshman at UC Davis, Kooper shared how much fun he’d had hanging out with Maddie, and 40 of his teammates will be attending Evening of Dreams with dates, too! “The theme this year is ‘Under the Sea,’ and Maddie is already looking for a mermaid dress— or at least planning on wearing a shell in her hair!” Jennifer says. “Whatever happens, I’m sure it will be magical. For a special needs mom, these are the times you dream about, giving your child a few precious moments of the kind of life we all take too often for granted. I can’t thank Kooper and Evening of Dreams enough for that!”