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Mayor Presents Proclamation During Rally For Lights On After School

Children, parents, business and community leaders joined The BGCIB in a Lights On Afterschool rally - one of 7,500 such events held across the nation on October 18, 2007. The events at The Club and each of its Licensed Childcare Programs located on local elementary school campuses emphasized the importance of keeping the lights on and the doors open for after-school programs. Tight budgets, rising housing prices are endangering after-school programs around the country, forcing many programs to cut back or possibly even closing their doors.

City Mayor Jim Janney presented the BGCIB with a City Proclamation at last week's city council meeting, proclaiming October 18, 2007, as Lights on Afterschool! Day in the City, and encouraged all citizens to join in recognizing and supporting the important role the BGCIB and their after school programs play in providing every child throughout the South Bay access to a safe, friendly place where the lights are on everyday after school.
'Lights On Afterschool' participants observed student art and science displays, joined in a game of pool, played bingo, made Halloween crafts and dug for dinosaur artifacts. Parents and community members saw firsthand the importance of after-school programs.
The nationwide events marked the eighth annual 'Lights On Afterschool!', sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance.  It is estimated millions of children in the United States are alone and unsupervised each afternoon after the school day ends as government funding has not kept up with demand.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger returned as the Chair of 'Lights On Afterschool!' again this year.
"Lights On Afterschool celebrates the remarkable work being done by students who attend our after-school programs," said Patricia B. Director of the Clubs licensed after-school  program. "After-school programs keep children safe and help them learn, while relieving working parents of worries about how their children spend their afternoons. Unfortunately, many parents can't afford after-school care and waiting lists for subsidized programs are full so many kids are home alone in the afternoons, or out on the streets where they can be exposed to crime or engage in dangerous behaviors. The BGCIB is committed to doing all it can to ensure that, in the very near future, every south bay child who needs an after-school program has one. Afterschool is key to children's success."
"We are all so proud of our after-school students," said Oneonta Site Director Pete S. "There's no reason that learning should stop at 3 pm, particularly if the alternative is unsupervised time in front of a television set, or any of the dangerous or unhealthy behaviors that can ensnare children in the afternoons. 
'Lights On Afterschool' is a nationwide event to recognize the critical importance of quality after-school programs in the lives of children, their families and communities. Our program doesn't just benefit kids and parents; it also helps local businesses, the community, the city, the state and our nation. By keeping the kids safe we keep the community safe and we are training the leaders and workforce of the future. We all benefit when children have access to after-school programs."

Photo Caption  Mayor Jim Janney presents B&GCIB Staff Aaron R. and Eddie F. the Proclamation announcing Lights On Afterschool! Day in the City recognizing and supporting the important role the BGCIB and their after school programs play in providing every child throughout the City access to a safe, friendly place where the lights are on everyday after school.