Lights On Afterschool Awareness Day
Saturday October 7th, 2006
Baltimore/Pennsylvania/Washington, DC Area JCPenney stores join with afterschool
providers to raise the awareness of Lights On Events and the need for quality after
school programs. Visit your Baltimore/Pennsylvania/Washington, DC area JCPenney
store on this day to show your support for Afterschool in your community and
nationwide
www.jcpenny.com
www.afterschoolalliance.org
Lights On Afterschool!
Thursday October 12th, 2006
Lights On Afterschool, the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool, brings
attention to the need for afterschool programs that keep kids safe, help working
families, and improve academic achievement. Visit www.afterschoolalliance.org to find
a Lights On Afterschool! location in your community
Get Involved Now
What you need to know:
The summer has gone by so quickly and that means that the 2006 Lights On Afterschool event is just
around the corner! For those of you new to Lights On Afterschool (LOA), Maryland 4-H faculty and
staff have been supporting statewide and national efforts to promote and advocate for Afterschool
Programs for All in partnership with JC Penney, YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Junior Achievement,
the Afterschool Alliance, and other partners. For the past four years, Maryland Cooperative Extension
has made a significant contribution to the statewide effort.
There are two ways to be involved:
1. Promote 4-H and other community afterschool programs at a local JC Penney store on Saturday,
October 7th. JC Penney has been a significant program and financial partner in afterschool and each
store has an afterschool coach who promotes participation by employees in community afterschool
efforts. Specifically, we have been asked to provide coverage at the JC Penney stores in Salisbury
Center, Lakeforest Mall, Columbia Mall, St. Charles Towne Center, Wildewood Shopping
Center, Prince George’s Plaza, and Forest Village Park. However, we are welcome to also provide
coverage at Wheaton Plaza, Francis Scott Key Mall, Easton Market Place, Owings Mills Town Center,
Annapolis Mall, White Marsh Mall, Eastpoint Mall, Valley Mall, Marley Station Mall, and Country
Club Mall with other partners. Please contact Kendra Wells at 301-314-7317 (office) if you are able to
schedule coverage at one or more shifts (10-12, 12-2, 2-4) at any of these locations. YOU don't have to
be the person present, you can share this information with your afterschool partners, with parents, and
with the volunteers and staff who work at the programs. It is to EVERYONE'S advantage to promote
Afterschool programs AND to partner with JC Penney in this effort. A description of the JC Penney
promotional event can be viewed at:
www.mcecares.org/websitedocs/lightson_jcpenney_instructions_06.pdf
2. Host a "Lights On Afterschool" event at your program site, participate in a local event or provide
the leadership to coordinate an event for your county/city! This does not have to be a grand event but
simply an opportunity to highlight the value of afterschool programs in your community and an
opportunity to invite elected officials and other decision makers to meet the youth served by your
program and to see what great work you do. To learn how to plan a successful Lights on Afterschool
Event check out the following: www.mcecares.org/websitedocs/CelebrateLightsOnAfterschool.pdf
If you need more information about Lights On Afterschool, visit the Afterschool Alliance website:
http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/lights_on/index.cfm. This site provides lots of ideas and resources
for making the event successful and FUN! It is also the place to register your event and to see who else
in your community is planning to celebrate Lights On Afterschool!