Office of the Mayor

Proclamation

Lawrence, Kansas

WHEREAS:   The Lawrence After School Alliance has provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement in the education and well-being of our youth, grounded in the principle that quality after school programs are key to helping our children become successful adults; and

WHEREAS:   Lights On Afterschool!, a national celebration of after school programs on October 20, promotes the critical importance of quality after school programs in the lives of children, their families and their communities; and

WHEREAS:   More than 28 million children in the U.S. have parents who work outside the home, and 14.3 million children have no place to go after school; and

WHEREAS:   Many afterschool programs across the country are facing funding shortfalls so severe that they are being forced to close their doors and turn off their lights; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dennis “Boog” Highberger, Mayor of the City of Lawrence, Kansas, do hereby proclaim Thursday, October 20 to be

“LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL! DAY”

and commits Lawrence to engage in innovative after school programs and activities that ensure the lights stay on and the doors stay open for all children after school.

Dennis “Boog” Highberger

                                                          Mayor

October 11, 2005