By Shannon Holmes
August 30, 2004

On October 14, 2004 more than 6,000 communities across the country will rally for afterschool by participating in the fifth anniversary of Lights On Afterschool! The day will call attention to afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open.

Once again The United States Conference of Mayors is a national supporter of Lights On Afterschool because of the importance of afterschool and out-of-school time programming in cities nationwide.

Lights On Afterschool! is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families, and improve academic achievement.

Lights On Afterschool! is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to afterschool programs by 2010.

For the third year in a row, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is serving as Chair of Lights On Afterschool!

Events will be held in cities in such places as After-school All'stars, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 4-H Afterschool, Junior Achievement, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the YMCA of the USA. To find events that will be held in your city please visit www.afterschoolalliance.org. Also, if you want to register an event or to participate in Lights On Afterschool!, go to its website — www.afterschoolalliance.org.

For additional information about Lights On Afterschool! contact Ursula Helminski at (212) 548-0373 or uhelminski@afterschoolalliance.org