At 8,000+ Sites, America Will Rally for Afterschool Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Infrared cameras that capture the nocturnal movements of animals. Book giveaways. Students learning about light at circuitry centers. Canned food drives. Puzzle pieces that, together, form over-sized lightbulbs that fill gymnasium floors. Inflatable planetariums for students to explore. Fire safety demonstrations. Robot battles. Placemat-making for seniors who receive food from Meals on Wheels. Student music and dance performances. Health and wellness fairs. History discussions. Pajama parties. Cultural diversity celebrations. Cooking contests. Awards ceremonies. Parades. Anti-bullying programs. Glow-in-the-dark bowling. Giant Jenga games.

Those are just some of the innovative, fun, educational Lights On Afterschool events taking place across the country this week. More than one million people will participate in the more than 8,000 events that make up the 19th annual Lights On Afterschool – the only national rally to showcase the skills students hone and talents they develop at their afterschool programs.

Lights On Afterschool is organized each year by the Afterschool Alliance to underscore the need to invest in afterschool programs, which provide homework help, mentoring, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities, sports and fitness, healthy snacks and meals, art and dance, job- and college-readiness, and opportunities for hands-on, team-based learning.

The New York skyline will again shine for afterschool on October 25th when, for the 12th consecutive year, the iconic Empire State Building is lit up in yellow and blue for afterschool.

There are more than 200 Lights On Afterschool partners this year. A list of Lights On Afterschool events is available here. To find other events in your area, see this map.

A national poll commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance and released this week for Lights On Afterschool finds that vast majorities of the public – across gender, race, age, regional and party lines – consider afterschool programs to be important to their communities. There is strong support for public funding, with two in three adults saying they want their federal, state and local leaders to provide funding for afterschool and summer programs.

Peachjar helps afterschool programs connect with families and is a generous sponsor of Lights On Afterschool this year.

SOURCE Afterschool Alliance

Related Links

http://www.afterschoolalliance.org

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