NJ Kids Take Part in National 'Lights On Afterschool' Day
21 October 2005 - 6:04AM
PR Newswire (US)
PSE&G marks the day with a major funding announcement designed
to make afterschool programming more accessible for NJ's working
parents NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Students
from schools in Hillside joined with corporate and community
leaders at The Newark Museum Thursday to celebrate national Lights
On Afterschool Day. The celebration was one of thousands held
across the country on October 20th to highlight the need for
afterschool programming. PSE&G, one of New Jersey's leading
businesses, marked the day by announcing a $450,000 grant to make
afterschool programming more accessible for working parents. The
PSE&G grant to NJ After 3, a non-profit dedicated to expanding
afterschool programming across New Jersey, will be split into
payments over three years. It will fund the development of a
comprehensive searchable database of afterschool activities all
around the State, regardless of the whether it is a NJ After 3
funded program or not. It will expand access to information and
resources for New Jersey families in need of high quality
afterschool activities by allowing working parents to compare
information on all of the programs available in their area, to find
the one that works best for their family. The corporate
contribution to NJ After 3 is the biggest yet for the newly started
non-profit, and it highlights how critical it is for NJ business
leaders to support afterschool care as a means of workforce
development. "PSE&G continues to be a strong and steady
supporter of New Jersey's children and families," said Assemblyman
Caraballo, whose district benefits from many quality afterschool
programs. "I commend them for their leadership in the business
community and their commitment to making the future brighter for
the citizens of our state." Many of the speakers at the celebration
in Newark celebrated the state's growing portfolio of afterschool
programs and called for expanded funding for these programs to
ensure that children have a safe place to go and develop after the
school bell rings. "Many after-school programs across the nation
are struggling to keep their doors open and their lights on. But
here in New Jersey, the future looks bright," said Ralph Izzo,
President and COO of PSE&G. "Today we are celebrating the
energy we get when we combine resources- time, talent and money
from the community, local and state government and the private
sector, to support our children and families." Congress declared
its support for the goals and ideals for the nationwide Lights on
Afterschool Day celebration. According to a joint resolution passed
by the United States Senate and the House of Representatives, more
than 28,000,000 children in the United States have parents who work
outside the home, and 14,300,000 children have no place to go after
school. "With so many one-parent families and families with both
parents working outside their homes, afterschool programs have
become a very important part of our society. They are a tremendous
help to parents who want to give their kids a safe place to learn
and grow while giving themselves some peace of mind," said Acting
Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy. The Hillside students at
the event were from Calvin Coolidge, George Washington and
Hurden-Looker schools attend. The Newark Museum partners with the
Hillside School district to run the NJ After 3 programs. According
to Mary Sue Sweeney Price, Director of The Newark Museum, the
funding provided by New Jersey After 3 and PSE&G has enabled
the Museum use its educational resources in a unique and
comprehensive afterschool program. "As a result of a major grant in
the amount of $330,000, the Museum is able to provide enriching
art, science and cultural experiences to the children of Hillside
Public Schools every day that school is in session," she said.
"This is an exciting opportunity to extend the Museum's service and
outreach into the community." Partnered with local community
non-profit organizations, NJ After 3 programs are school-based,
which allows parents to work a full day with the knowledge that
their children have a safe, structured and supportive alternative
to going home alone. The organization has more than doubled its
scope and reach since it began programming last September. With 32
new programs in its portfolio, 11,000 kids in 66 schools across the
state will be enrolled in its afterschool programs in the 2005-2006
school year. In addition to being head of PSE&G, Ralph Izzo is
also the Chair of NJ After 3 Board. "We did the work up front, and
we're seeing the payoff now in the faces of the families who are
taking advantage of our programs," he said. "We were careful to lay
a solid groundwork, and its being strengthened daily by a growing
team of supportive legislators, corporate, non-profit and local
leaders. I couldn't be more proud of the early growth of this
organization or more committed to its long-term success." NJ After
3 (NJA3) is a public- private partnership designed to maximize the
resources available to afterschool programs for New Jersey kids.
NJA3 receives funding from the State and other public and private
sources including: corporate and foundation support, individual
donations, local and school district support, and federal funding.
Lights On Afterschool! is celebrated nationwide to call attention
to the importance of afterschool programs. It was launched in
October 2000 with celebrations in more than 1,200 communities
nationwide. This October 20th, 1 million Americans are expected to
celebrate. DATASOURCE: Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
CONTACT: Jenn Connell of PSE&G, +1-973-430-7734; Mark Valli, NJ
After 3, +1-732-246-7936 Web site: http://www.pseg.com/
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