Lights on Afterschool

9,000 Rallies Nationwide Aim to Make Afterschool Programs Available to All Gloucester County to Hold Lights On Afterschool Rally October 22.

[October 19, 2015: Gloucester County, NJ] - The YMCA of Gloucester County afterschool programs will host Lights On Afterschool rallies in all of their after school programs, as well as at the YMCA on Thursday, October 22 from @ 5:00pm—6:00pm. The rallies will be one of more than an expected 8,000 such events around the nation that day, the annual Lights On Afterschool, organized by the Afterschool Alliance. The Programs will bring attention to the need for expanding afterschool opportunities so that every child who needs a program has access to one, and discuss the benefits of afterschool programs, including inspiring children to learn, keeping them safe in the sometimes perilous afternoon hours, and relieving working families of worries about their children’s activities in the afternoon.

Participants in the Lights On Afterschool rallies include students at the following elementary schools in area: Billingsport, Central, Evergreen, General Harker, Good Intent, Gov. Stratton, Lake Tract, Margaret Clifford, Oak Valley, Pine Acres, Shady Lane, South Harrison, Walter Hill, Wenonah & West End. The event will spotlight the range of programming available at the YMCA of Gloucester County’s Before and After School Programs, including its Family CATCH Games, Family Board Games, Presentation of song created by Y’z Kidz at the After School Programs and ending the celebration with the YMCA of Gloucester County Program-Wide Glow Stick Party. Help us break the YMCA’s glow stick party World Record by joining us at 5:00pm to celebrate. Hundreds of parents, supporters and community members are expected to attend.

· What: YMCA of Gloucester County Before and After School Program Lights On Afterschool Rally

· When: Thursday, October 22 from 5:00PM-6:00PM

· Where: YMCA Afterschool Programs in Gloucester County; YMCA of Gloucester County

· Who: Parents, supporters and staff of After School

Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is Founding Chair of Lights On Afterschool, a position he has held since 2001.

The YMCA of Gloucester County Before and After School Programs opened in early 1990’s. It now serves over 500 children in the community, providing homework assistance, clubs in sports, recreation, and art, with a heavy focus on healthy eating habits and physical activity for all children that we service. The programs are a collaboration between various school districts in Gloucester County and the YMCA of Gloucester County.

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children have access to quality afterschool programs. More information on Lights On Afterschool is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.