Lights On Afterschool.

Lights on Afterschool! is a nationwide event to recognize the critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families and their communities.

On October 11, Lights on Afterschool! will rally community support by shinning the spotlight on innovative, high quality aferschool programs at over 2,000 sites across the country. Parents, community and business leaders, elected officials, and the media will have an opportunity to see firsthand how afterschool programs help our children discover the heroes within themselves.

Lights on Afterschool! is a project of the Afterschool Alliance.

* Quality afterschool programs provide a safe, friendly learning environment for our kids, and boost their academic achievement.

* Quality afterschool programs build stronger communities by involving students, parents, business leaders and adult volunteers.

* Quality afterschool programs support working families by ensuring that their children are safe and productive when the school day ends.

* Quality afterschool programs stimulate children's imaginations and offers them an opportunity to shine.

Goals of Lights on Afterschool!

* To raise national and local awareness of the importance of afterschool programs

* To increase funding for afterschool programs

* To ensure that afterschool programs have the resources they need to provide the highest quality programs

* To support existing afterschool programs in their efforts to expand or improve, and to help launch new afterschool programs in areas of the country where lights are off

* To ensure all children have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs by 2010.

To register as a Lights on Afterschool! event site or to learn more about how you can participate, please contact the NRPA Urban Youth Initiative at [phone] or visit http://www.afterschool alliance.org