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Lights On Afterschool
Each October, one million Americans and thousands of communities nationwide celebrate Lights On Afterschool to shine a light on the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, help working families and build youth workforce skills. This year on October 17, 2013 afterschool programs across the nation will be participating in the 14th annual Lights on Afterschool celebration. Host an event that works for your afterschool and celebrate your support for afterschool. How will you celebrate Lights On Afterschool?
Please register your event(s) with the Afterschool Alliance. If you are having an event at more than one program site, please register each site on the Afterschool Alliance website at
http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/loa.cfm. This website also has information on planning and organizing a Lights On Afterschool event.
Lights On Afterschool Event Ideas
Top Reasons to register and celebrate
Lights On Afterschool
1. Help us break a record. Last year we had 9,300 events-more than ever before. Wouldn't it be cool to hit 10,000 events this year? We think so, too. If you don't register, we can't count you in our total.
2. For the sixth year in a row, the Empire State Building will light up in honor of Lights On Afterschool. You can say: "The Empire State Building lit up in honor of MY afterschool program." Now that's what we call bragging rights.
3. Influence afterschool policy. Elections are happening a few weeks after Lights On Afterschool. It's the perfect opportunity to make afterschool an election issue in your community.
4. Tell your afterschool story by reaching out to the media. Reporters seek out stories that affect the community-they will want to tell readers, viewers and listeners about threats to afterschool programs. So plan your Lights On Afterschool activities with the media in mind.
5. Discount School Supply will be giving away a free item from their NEW Recreation catalog each week to a registered program. Maybe host a game night with parents for your Lights On Afterschool event.
6. Raise $. Celebrations can be done on a tight budget, and can even help you raise money! Turn event into a fundraiser or attract sponsors, partners to share costs and in-kind donations.
7. Let your community know that afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire learning and help working families.
8. Get 10 free posters (just for registering!)to help you promote your event in your community. This year's poster was drawn by 10-year-old Rosani Cazeau of Children of Promise NYC in Brooklyn, NY.
9. Get parents engaged. Use your event as an opportunity to bring parents into the mix, get them more involved with your program, and even connect them to the school.
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