Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families, today announced that October 16, 2008 will be recognized as “Lights on Afterschool Day,” a national celebration of afterschool programs.  This designation was made possible by this weekend’s Senate approval of a resolution introduced by Dodd and Senator John Ensign (D-NV).  Dodd and Ensign are co-chairs of the Senate’s Afterschool Caucus. 

“Quality afterschool programs should be should be available to all children,” said Dodd.  “Afterschool programs help lift an immense burden off millions of parents who have to work long hours in order to make ends meet.  More importantly, they engage kids in a constructive, safe, and fun environment.  I hope that parents, students, and teachers across the country will join in celebrating afterschool programs in their communities this October.”

Lights On Afterschool is celebrated every October in communities nationwide to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities.  Lights On Afterschool was launched in October 2000 with celebrations in more than 1,200 communities nationwide. The event has grown from 1,200 celebrations in 2001 to more than 7,500 today.  An estimated one million Americans will join the celebration this year.   

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