Lights On Afterschool
is celebrated nationwide to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities.
In America today, 1 in 4 youth -- 14.3 million children – are alone and unsupervised after school. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families and inspire learning. They provide opportunities to help young people develop into successful adults.
Lights On Afterschool
was launched in October 2000 with celebrations in more than 1,200 communities nationwide. The event grew in 2001 to more than 3,600 events, and more than 7,500 in 2006. This October, 1 million Americans will celebrate
Lights On Afterschool!
This year's Lights On is October 16, 2008!
Lights On afterschool events provide great opportunities to build relationships and visibility locally, and send a strong and united afterschool message across your state and nationally. With Congress considering an afterschool increase, presidential elections coming up, and so many tough budget decisions facing elected leaders, this is an important time to make our voices heard. We hope you plan to join us in celebrating the 9th annual Lights On Afterschool this October 16, 2008. Don’t forget to register your event with the Afterschool Alliance.
The Afterschool Alliance has just updated their entire Web site, including Lights On Afterschool.
Some tools to look out for:
Lights On Afterschool
is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofitorganization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to quality,affordable afterschool programs. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has served as Chair of Lights On Afterschool since 2001.
The Afterschool Alliance salutes the many
Lights On Afterschool
partners and programs who make this event a success, in particular the After-School All-Stars, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 4-H Afterschool, Junior Achievement, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Young Rembrandts, and the YMCA of the USA.