Lights on After School Day - Office of the Governor of Alabama

WHEREAS, the citizens of the State of Alabama stand firmly committed to quality afterschool programs and opportunities, as they provide safe, challenging, and engaging learning experiences that help children develop social, emotional, physical and academic skills; support working families by ensuring their children are safe and productive after the regular school day ends; build stronger communities by involving students, parents, business leaders and adult volunteers in the lives of young people, thereby promoting positive relationships among youth, families and adults; and engage families, schools and community partners in advancing the welfare of our children; and

WHEREAS, the State of Alabama has provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement in the education and well-being of our youth, grounded in the principle that quality afterschool programs are key to helping our children become successful adults; and

WHEREAS, Lights On Afterschool, the national celebration of afterschool programs held this year on October 20, 2011, promotes the importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, families and communities; and

WHEREAS, more than 28 million children in the U.S. have parents who work outside the home, and 15.1 million children have no place to go after school; and

WHEREAS, many afterschool programs across the country are facing funding shortfalls so severe that they are being forced to close their doors and turn off their lights; and

WHEREAS, the State of Alabama is committed to investing in the health and safety of all young people by providing expanded learning opportunities that will help close the achievement gap and prepare young people to compete in the global economy:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama, do hereby proclaim October 20, 2011, as

Lights on After School Day

in the State of the Alabama.

Given Under My Hand and the Great Seal of the Office of the Governor at the State Capitol in the City of Montgomery on the 20th day of October 2011.

Governor Robert Bentley