Afterschool

Afterschool

Gretchen Wright
September 19, 2005

Turning the Lights On from Coast-to-Coast Cities Nationwide Gear Up for National Afterschool Rally From the courthouse in Moultrie, Georgia to the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh to the Houston Zoo, afterschool programs are lining up fun and exciting venues for the sixth annual Lights On Afterschool.

Each October, hundreds of thousands of parents, children and community leaders in cities across the country come together in diverse settings to rally for afterschool programs. Lights On Afterschool is organized by the Afterschool Alliance with National Presenting Sponsor the JCPenney Afterschool Fund.

Events planned for this year include:

* A "Kids Day" on October 20 in Los Angeles, California at the Boys and Girls Club of East Los Angeles. Activities will include making special Lights On piñatas.

* A two-day celebration in Modesto, California, beginning with a rally at Boomers Amusement Park on October 19 and ending with a street fair in downtown Modesto on October 20. The street fair will also highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

* A Lights On Afterschool On the Square festival at the courthouse in Moultrie, Georgia on October 20. Afterschool providers from across the city will participate and staff booths that showcase the types of afterschool activities available to kids.

* An open house and pizza dinner at Madison Middle School in Rexburg, Idaho on October 20. The program will display light bulb artwork created by students and participants will receive Lights On necklaces.

* Fireworks, food, games, prizes and entertainment at Bosse Field on October 12 in Evansville, Indiana. More than 3,000 residents are expected to turn out for what is becoming one of the city's most anticipated annual events.

* Student performances at the state capitol in Albany, New York on October 20, and a van tour of local programs for state legislators and other officials. Two local malls will also hold events, hosted by JCPenney.

* Youth church choir performances in the town square in Supply, North Carolina, where County Commissioners have already issued a proclamation declaring October 20 "Afterschool Day."

* A "Best Afterschool Program Ever" at the Cincinnati Museum Center in Ohio on October 20 that will include a showcase of the variety of afterschool activities involving art, science, reading, math and culture.

* Art activities and a Youth Puppet Troupe performance at the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh on October 20, with door prizes, a raffle and refreshments.

* A "Wild About Afterschool" rally at the Houston zoo on October 20, featuring Mayor Bill White. After the rally, children will be invited to participate in a variety of fun, hands-on activities.

* A rally featuring a performance by the West Virginia youth choir and First Lady Gayle Manchin at the state capitol in Charleston, West Virginia on October 20. "It is exciting to see the diverse events being planned and so many communities participating in Lights On Afterschool this year," said Wynn Watkins, Board Chairman of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund.

"We are delighted to be National Presenting Sponsor again this year, and to have many of our store managers supporting events around the country. Lights On Afterschool does so much to call attention to the need for more afterschool programs, which keep kids safe, help working families and inspire student learning."

This year's Lights On Afterschool is expected to include more than 7,000 events in the United States and at military bases around the world. Information about other 2005 Lights On Afterschool events is available online at Afterschool

Lights On Afterschool was launched in October 2000 with 1,200 events across the country. Last year, more than half a million people rallied at 7,000 events to show their support for afterschool programs. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is National Chair of Lights On Afterschool, a position he has held since 2001.

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization supported by a group of public, private, and nonprofit entities working to ensure that all children have access to afterschool programs by 2010. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports programs designed to keep kids safely and constructively engaged during out-of-school time. The Fund's contributions allow for the creation and continuance of afterschool programs aimed at the academic, physical, and social development of children throughout the U.S.

The JCPenney Afterschool Fund also works to raise awareness of the benefits of afterschool programming, and is committed to ensuring that every child has access to the world of opportunities that awaits them after school.