After-School All-Stars Ohio Joins 14th Annual National Rally for Afterschool
Parents, Students and Community Members Unite to Talk About After School Programs
TOLEDO, OHIO– Hundreds of children, parents, business and community leaders will come together Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at a Lights On Afterschool event at Walbridge Elementary School to celebrate the achievements of afterschool students and draw attention to the need for more afterschool programs to serve the millions of children nationwide who are unsupervised and at risk each weekday afternoon. The gathering is one of more than 9,000 such events across the nation emphasizing the importance of keeping the lights on and the doors open for afterschool programs. The event will celebrate the many benefits of afterschool programs, and encourage lawmakers to support afterschool funding. . As at other Lights On Afterschool events across the nation, Toledo parents and supporters of afterschool signed a petition that urges lawmakers not to deny or divert funding for afterschool programs.
Lights On Afterschool participants and guests will be able to listen to student poetry focusing on the importance of after school and will have the opportunity to participate in health and fitness classes. This year marks the 2nd annual Lights On Afterschool event sponsored by the After-School All-Stars Ohio. More than one million Americans will take part in the nationwide rally to support afterschool programs.
In Ohio, according to America After 3PM data released by the Afterschool Alliance in 2009, 12% percent of school-age children are in afterschool programs, while 30% percent are unsupervised in the afternoons and another 16% percent are in the care of brothers and sisters. According to the survey, the parents of the 30% percent of children in the state who are not already in an afterschool program would enroll their children in a program, if a program were available to them—an indication of the considerable unmet demand for afterschool programs in the state. For more survey results, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM.cfm.
Founded in 1992, After-School All-Stars is a leading national provider of year-round, school-based, comprehensive after-school programs. During the school year, children participate in free programs that include academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health/fitness activities. After-School All-Stars Ohio’s mission is to keep at-risk children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. Over 81,000 children from families of poverty benefit in 14 U.S. regions: Atlanta, Chicago, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, North Texas, Ohio, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, South Florida, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.asasohio.org or contact the ASAS Ohio office at 614-257-1678.