Actors Kevin Sorbo, Rhea Perlman to Headline Lights on Afterschool!
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Afterschool Advocate Page 1 of 6 Volume 6, Issue 11, October 17, 2005 ACTORS KEVIN SORBO, RHEA PERLMAN TO HEADLINE LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL! nation’s largest rally for afterschool,” said From a Youth Resource Fair in Boston to Wynn Watkins, Chairman of the Board of the the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix to an JCPenney Afterschool Fund. “Each year, Army base in Hawaii, lawmakers, community more and more of America’s families turn to and business leaders, athletes, creative artists quality afterschool programming to keep their and religious leaders will be voicing their children safe and constructively engaged support for afterschool programs this week. during out-of-school hours. Consequently, Award-winning actress Rhea Perlman is the Lights On Afterschool annual events reprising her role as national spokesperson for continue to build in terms of participation and Lights On Afterschool, and actor Kevin Sorbo impact. Our organization is honored to is joining events in Los Angeles and support Lights On and pleased to see the Washington, DC. growing attention it brings to this very Best known for her role as Carla on the important issue.” long-running television show “Cheers,” “We are delighted that Rhea and Kevin Perlman volunteers with LA’s BEST, an are joining us this year to help get out the afterschool program in Los Angeles. She will word that afterschool programs are vitally participate in a national media tour, spreading important to children, families and the word about Lights On Afterschool and the communities,” said Afterschool Alliance importance of afterschool programs. Executive Director Jodi Grant. “Afterschool A spokesperson for the Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working Alliance, Sorbo played the title role in the hit families and inspire children to learn. We all television series, “Hercules: The Legendary have a role to play in keeping the lights on Journeys.” He participated in the national afterschool.” kick-off event, featuring the Lights On Lights On Afterschool began in October Afterschool Traveling Light Bulb, on Sunday, 2000 with 1,200 events across the country. October 2 in Los Angeles. Some 4,000 Last year, more than half a million people children, parents and community members rallied at 7,000 events to show their support joined him at the L.A. event, which was for afterschool programs. California Governor sponsored by the Beyond the Bell Branch of Arnold Schwarzenegger is National Chair of the Los Angeles Unified School District. He Lights On Afterschool, a position he has held will also moderate congressional events on since 2001. Thursday, October 20 – Lights On Afterschool To register your Lights On Afterschool Day. event or find an event near you, visit The Afterschool Alliance organizes Lights www.afterschoolalliance.org. On Afterschool, with National Presenting Sponsor the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. “We are proud to play a leading role in our Afterschool Advocate Page 2 TORANI SERVES IT UP FOR parents are at work, and present kids with AFTERSCHOOL creative, educational opportunities that many don’t have access to during school day.” Artwork created by two talented students “I still can’t believe I won! I threw away is on display in coffeehouses and kitchens my first picture, because I didn’t think I could throughout the country, promoting flavorful make anything nice,” Aaron Martinez said of beverages while spreading the word about the creative process. “And I was about to afterschool. throw away the second one, but my friends at Torani Peppermint and Raspberry syrups Y.E.S. told me to send it in, that it was nice, sport new, limited-edition labels designed by and that’s the one they liked.” 13-year-old Daniel Saldana of Fort Worth, Torani beverages are available in coffee Texas and 10-year-old Aaron Martinez of houses and supermarkets nationwide. The Tucson, Arizona. Their artwork was selected labels can be viewed online at from hundreds of entries submitted by www.torani.com/create/limited_edition_label afterschool students around the country in a s.shtml. Visitors to the site can also find contest to design the new labels. Torani, the recipe ideas. number one specialty syrup in North America, is donating five percent of the products’ sales from August through December to the Afterschool Alliance. IN THE NEWS… “For 80 years Torani has been adding color and creativity to life,” said Lisa National – An online survey conducted by Lucheta, Torani principal and family-owner. Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the “The Afterschool Alliance is committed to JCPenney Afterschool Fund finds that bringing colorful experiences to children, students need access to quality afterschool which is why they are a perfect partner for programs that provide homework assistance Torani. We are proud to support afterschool and academic goal setting. The survey asked programs.” Boys & Girls Club members ages 6 to 18 their Torani hosted soda and pizza parties for opinions on homework and graduating high both boys at their afterschool programs, the school. While most received homework help Fort Worth Independent School District’s 21st from their parents, one in five reported Century Afterschool Program at Glencrest receiving no help at all and more than half School and the Y.E.S. Afterschool Program at said that television was the top homework Walter Douglas Elementary School in distraction. Nine in ten respondents (89 Tucson. School boards in both cities joined percent) said graduating high school was very Torani representatives in special presentations important and 98 percent expect to graduate. to honor the winning students. The company also presented them with framed limited Illinois - Students from After School Matters edition prints of their labels, and gave each a learned to cultivate and harvest organic check for art supplies for their afterschool vegetables, flowers and herbs in Chicago’s programs. Grant Park, creating the park’s first organic “Torani is doing a tremendous amount to garden. The students will sell the produce at raise awareness about the wonderful, creative community farmers’ markets, using the opportunities that afterschool programs offer proceeds to support agricultural projects and children,” said Afterschool Alliance Director donate some to homeless shelters, food Jodi Grant. “The company is helping to pantries and food kitchens. Officials told the spread the word that afterschool programs Chicago Tribune that farming gave the provide a safe place for students while their students mental and physical challenges, in Afterschool Advocate Page 3 addition to teaching them the value of hard Freeman told the Chattanooga Times Free work. Sponsored by the city of Chicago, Press, “There’s a lot of creativity, which After School Matters collaborated on the today can be hard to fit in the regular school project with the Chicago Park District and day.” Students in the moviemaking course Growing Power, a national non-profit that will produce a documentary about the provides training and technical support for enrichment classes – handling music, filming community projects. and editing. Each will receive a DVD of their work. Maine – The Bangor Daily News reports that the Penquis CAP afterschool program has made it possible for young entrepreneurs to get hands-on business experience. Students ASK THE PRESIDENT TO age 12 to 15 are operating “Printing Pals,” a graphic design and printing business that INCREASE AFTERSCHOOL creates brochures, ads, business cards and FUNDING other products. In addition to meeting with clients and keeping track of supply orders and Right now the White House is preparing accounts, students in the “Young its budget proposal for FY 2007. None of the Entrepreneurs Society” participate in Administration’s five budgets to date has st community service and YMCA activities, included an increase in 21 Century make arts and crafts and join field trips. Community Learning Centers funding, and afterschool is falling farther behind its New York – “Kids X-Press,” a magazine authorized funding levels -- $2.5 billion for comprised entirely of children’s submissions, FY 07. The resulting shortfall is denying is an outgrowth of a nonprofit literacy afterschool programming to 1.75 million children. Contact the President to urge an program designed to “keep kids writing,” st reports the New York Times. The program, increase in funding for the 21 Century run by Nivia Viera, provides writing Community Learning Centers initiative in FY workshops at afterschool programs in New 2007. To contact the White House, visit York State and uses the children’s writing and http://capwiz.com/afterschool/issues/, and artwork for the quarterly magazine’s content. click on the link to “Tell the President to st About 80,000 copies of the magazine are Increase Funding for 21 Century Programs.” distributed each year and submissions are increasing. “Our outreach is to children who don’t think of themselves as writers and authors,” Viera said. “We want kids to know IN THEIR OWN WORDS… they can be published.” More information on the magazine can be found at “Access to high-quality afterschool programs www.kxpforkids.org/. is critical to our ability to improve the health, safety, academic achievement and overall Tennessee - Fourth and fifth grade students development of the next generation of leaders at E.L. Ross Elementary and George R. Stuart in government and industry.” Elementary are being exposed to new experiences at Cleveland City’s afterschool - St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay on creating a enrichment program. Students choose from coordinated system of afterschool programs diverse course offerings ranging from for young people in St. Louis by 2010, St. moviemaking, stock market strategies, chess Louis Post-Dispatch, September 30, 2005 and chemistry. Program director Melissa Afterschool Advocate Page 4 “Afterschool enrichment programs fill a very http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/ost_ important need for working parents, findings.html, and explore the database at especially between the hours of 3 PM and 6 http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afte PM when, according to authorities, juvenile rschool/about.html.