7,500 Rallies Nationwide Aim to Make Afterschool Programs Available to All

October 18, 2007 - The Private Industry Council Dare2XL Afterschool Programs at Cox-Donahey Elementary School, in Brownville and Zack Connelly Elementary School, in Connellsville hosted Lights On Afterschool Open House events. Both events featured activities planned by the program staff, student performances, and a speeches from the head teachers and Chuck Burtyk, Director of Workforce Development for PIC. Many parents turned out for the events to learn more about DARE2XL and the many benefits of afterschool programs in general. Student participants were also awarded light-up pins to honor their hard work in the program.

These open houses in support of afterschool programs were two of more than 7,500 such events around the nation last Thursday - the eighth annual Lights On Afterschool celebration, organized by the Afterschool Alliance. Hundreds of thousands of children across America joined parents, educators, and community, religious and business leaders to rally in support of the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire academic achievement and help working families. The 2007 Lights On Afterschool launched the 10th anniversary of the Federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, which has made afterschool programs available to hundreds of thousands of children across the nation over the last decade. Still, funding has not kept up with demand and millions of children are children are alone and unsupervised each afternoon after the school days ends. The Brownville and Connellsville afterschool programs are made possible through a grant from the Department of Education 21st Century Community Learning Center.

In 2006 the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. received funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Education to create two 21st Century Learning Community Centers in Fayette County. Through its initial work, The Private Industry Council has been successful in forming rewarding experiences for several youth in the Brownsville and Connellsville Area School Districts.

For more information, contact Pat Jones, Youth Employment and Training Supervisor for the Private Industry Council, (724) 434-5627. Background on Lights On Afterschool and the Afterschool Alliance is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Dare2XL Afterschool Programs at Cox-Donahey Elementary School, Browsville and Zack connelly Elementary School, Connellsville Click the image to enlarge