BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
GOVERNOR
KEEPING THE LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL DAY
2009
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the citizens of the State ofNorth Carolina stand firmly committed to quality afterschool programs and
opportunities because they provide safe, challenging, and engaging learning experiences that help children develop social,
emotional, physical and academic skills, support working families by ensuring their children are safe and productive after the
regular school day ends, build stronger communities by involving students, parents, business’leaders and adult volunteers in
the lives of young people, thereby promoting positive relationships among youth, families and adults, engage families, schools
and community partners in advancing the welfare of our children; and
WHEREAS, the North Carolina Center for Afterschool Programs 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 afterschool
programs are key to helping our children become successful adults; and
WHEREAS, Lights On Afterschool, the national celebration of afterschool programs held this year on October 22,
2009, promotes the importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, families and communities; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina is home to approximately 1.5 million youth aged 5 to 17, more than 70 percent live in
homes where both parents work or where there is a single parent who works; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina has the sixth fastest growing population of youth aged 5 to 17 in the nation; and
WHEREAS, 93 percent ofNorth Carolina parents are extremely or somewhat satisfied with the afterschool program
their child attends; 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
WHEREAS, the State ofNorth Carolina is committed to investing in the health and safety of all young people by
providing expanded learning opportunities that will help close the achievement gap and prepare young people to compete in
the global economy.
NOW THEREFORE I, BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE, Governor of the State ofNorth Carolina, do hereby proclaim
October 22, 2009, as "KEEPING LIGH TS ON AFTERSCHOOL DAY", in North Carolina and urge all citizens to engage
in innovative afterschool programs and activities that ensure the lights stay on and the doors stay open for all children after
school.
BEVERLY EAVES PERDUE
IN WITNESS YvHEREOF, I hav^hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State ofNorth Carolina at
the Capitol in Raleigh this fourteenth day of August in the year of our Lord two thousand and nine and the Independence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
