Lights on Afterschool is celebrated nationwide to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families, and communities. In America today, 1 in 4 youth -- 14.3 million children – are alone and unsupervised after school. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo, we provide programs and opportunities that help young people develop into successful adults.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo is one of thousands of organizations across the country that host Lights on Afterschool events. On October 18, 2007, we held events at several of our Clubhouses to bring attention to our programs and the diversity of our Clubs. All of the Clubs decorated light bulbs, which parents, the community and government officials were invited to view. Many of the bulbs described what the Club means to members and why it’s important to keep our and other after school program's doors open.

At our William C. Baird Clubhouse, Members held a community Hip Hop forum to create dialogue about the positive and negative things that were happening in their neighborhoods. At our Southside Clubhouse, performed skits highlighting their favorite programs and things to do at the Clubs. There was also an opportunity for Members to reenact their favorite Staff person, which they really enjoyed. Members that attend our JFK Site wrote letters to the Governor Spitzer telling him about the importance of after school programs.

Thank you to everyone who attended!