Boys & Girls Club of Cypress held a Lights On Afterschool event to celebrate the achievements of afterschool students and to draw attention to the need for more afterschool programs. Millions of children nationwide are unsupervised and at risk each weekday afternoon. The event was one of more than 9,000 gatherings across the nation that emphasize the importance of keeping the lights on and the doors open for afterschool programs.
“Lights On Afterschool celebrates the remarkable work being done by students who attend our afterschool programs,” stated Executive Director, Anne Hertz. “It is a powerful reminder that afterschool programs keep children safe, inspire them to learn, and relieve working parents of worries about how their children spend their afternoons. Too many kids are home alone in the afternoons or out on the streets where they are at-risk. We must work together to make sure that, in the very near future, every child who needs an afterschool program has one.”
In California, according to America After 3PM data released by the Afterschool Alliance in 2009, 19 percent of school-age children are in afterschool programs, while 24 percent are unsupervised in the afternoons and another 17 percent are in the care of brothers and sisters. According to the survey, the parents of 66 percent of children in the state who are not already in an afterschool program would enroll their children in one, if a program were available to them—an indication of the considerable unmet demand for afterschool programs in the state.
“We are all very proud of our afterschool students,” said Director of Operations, Sue Osbon. “There’s no reason that learning should stop at 3 p.m., particularly if the alternative is unsupervised time in front of a television set, or any of the dangerous or unhealthy behaviors that can ensnare children in the afternoons.”
This school year the Boys & Girls Club of Cypress is serving 10 percent more children than it was this same time last year and transportation requests from schools have increased by 25 percent. Many members are unable to pay the already low fees to attend the Club. To ensure that no child is ever turned away for inability to pay, the Club applies for grants, requests donations from individuals and business and hosts fundraising events. If it was not for the Club, many children would be home alone. Instead, they are able to attend the Club and participate in activities that help them to succeed in school, adopt healthy lifestyles and demonstrate good character and citizenship.
To find out more about the Club’s program or discuss how you can help, please contact the Executive Director, Anne Hertz at 714-527-2697 x201 or ahertz@bgccypress.org. Contributions are needed throughout the year and can be mailed to Boys & Girls Club of Cypress at 10161 Moody Street, Cypress, CA 90630.
