WHEREAS, Idahoans are firmly committed to quality afterschool programs and opportunities because they provide safe, challenging, engaging and fun learning experiences to help children and youth develop their social, emotional, physical, cultural and academic skills; and

        WHEREAS, afterschool programs support working families by ensuring their children are safe and productive after the regular school day ends; and

        WHEREAS, afterschool programs build stronger communities by involving our students, parents, business leaders and adult volunteers in the lives of our young people, thereby promoting positive relationships among children, youth, families and adults; and

        WHEREAS, afterschool programs engage families, schools and diverse community partners in advancing the welfare of our children; and

        WHEREAS, more then 28 million children in the United States have parents who work outside the home, and 14.3 million children have no place to go afterschool; and

        WHEREAS, as many after school program across the country are facing funding shortfalls so server that they are being forced to close their doors and turn off their lights; and

        WHEREAS, the Idaho Afterschool Alliance has provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement and 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, a national celebration of afterschool programs, promotes the critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families and their communities;

        NOW, THEREFORE, I C. L. “BUTCH” OTTER, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim October 18, 2007, as

LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL DAY

in Idaho.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at Boise, Idaho, on this 2nd day of October in the year of our Lord two-thousand and seven and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred thirty-second and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred eighteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE