Title
To recognize October 23rd, 2025 as Lights On Day in the City of Columbus, and to commend the work of the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department Afterschool Rec Club
Body
WHEREAS, “Lights On Afterschool” was launched in 2000 by the Afterschool Alliance as a nationwide event to celebrate afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities; and
WHEREAS, The Afterschool Alliance is a national organization that works to ensure that all youth have access to affordable, quality after school programs by engaging public will to increase public and private investment in after school program initiatives at the national, state, and local levels; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this event day is to celebrate the positive role afterschool programs play in the lives of children, families, and communities, while also advocating for these programs to legislators for adequate funding; and
WHEREAS, the initiative grew from over 1,200 communities in its first year to thousands of events each year, involving millions of people observing this occasion on the 4th Thursday of October every year; and,
WHEREAS, Columbus Recreation and Parks Afterschool Rec Club (ARC) has celebrated Lights On for the past three years with a free, family fun event for afterschool participants and their families; and,
WHEREAS, In 2024 over 500 persons attended this family fun STEM evening at COSI, a Columbus landmark, and it is anticipated that over 600 persons will attend this fun evening this year; and
WHEREAS, the CRPD Afterschool Rec Club (ARC) program encourages strong family involvement and focuses on comprehensive support for its participants by offering strong literacy programming, mental health programming for families, social emotional learning, academic assistance and enrichment activities; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS,
That his council hereby acknowledges the importance of Thursday, October 23, 2025, as ...
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