October is known for many in the education realm
as Lights On Afterschool! month. This year's
fifth annual Lights On! event proved to be the
best yet.

More than 7,000 rallies were held in all 50 states
and in 59 military installations across the world.
Hundreds of thousands of students, parents,
educators, and lawmakers attended rallies supporting
the event. The Lights On! event this year
featured more governors, senators, members of
Congress and state lawmakers than ever before.

"With support like this, we will surely meet our goal
to make afterschool programs available to all by the
year 2010," said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director
Judy Y. Samelson, who attended rallies in California,
New Hampshire, and New Mexico.

California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, kicked-
off the Lights On Afterschool! event for some
4,000 students. The rally featured relay races, rock
climbing, dance, art, and music activities.

Governor Schwarzenegger called Lights On
an "extraordinary event", and went on to tell the
children, "Every single day, you're making the right
decision by joining an afterschool program. Say yes to
education, yes to sports, yes to life and yes to hope.
Come to afterschool programs every day to get fit
mentally and physically."

Support didn't stop there. In addition to business
and community leaders speaking for the cause, both
houses of Congress passed resolutions supporting the
goals and ideals of Lights On Afterschool! to
raise awareness about the need for more afterschool
programs. This was the first time Congress had passed
resolutions in support of the event. In the resolutions,
Congress declared October 14th Lights On
Afterschool! Day.