Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 10, 2002
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke to Take Part in Nationwide After-School Rally

Gov. Gary Locke will join children, parents and teachers this evening at an Olympia elementary school for a rally to promote after-school activities. Locke will take part in the “Lights on Afterschool” event at Madison Elementary School, which begins at 4:45 p.m.

“Lights On Afterschool” is a nationwide rally to promote after-school programs. The goal is to highlight the important and fun things kids are doing in structured, supervised environments. Schools and community centers across the country will observe “Lights On Afterschool” events today.

“Our children need quality programs to keep them occupied and safe after school,” Locke said. “In Washington state, those programs are thriving thanks to groups like School’s Out Washington and the hard work of parents, teachers and volunteers.”

School’s Out Washington has provided training and assistance to after-school programs across the state for the past 15 years.

This is the third year for “Lights On Afterschool.” It was started by the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to after-school programs by the year 2010. J.C. Penney Afterschool is the national presenting sponsor and Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger is the group’s national spokesman for “Lights On Afterschool.”

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Related Links:
- Afterschool Alliance
- School's Out Washington

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