General Purposes

About this grant

This grant will enable the Afterschool Alliance to continue efforts to raise awareness and public support for afterschool programs. Since its creation in 1999, the alliance has worked to strengthen support for afterschool programs across the country. In particular, it has promoted the value of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, the largest federal afterschool program. Funding will support efforts to provide information on afterschool programs and resources; advocate for expansion of quality afterschool programs; encourage the development of local, state and national afterschool constituencies and systems; and communicate the impact of afterschool programs on children, families and communities. Additional funding will enable the alliance to establish its national headquarters in Washington, D.C. Recent accomplishments included launching the "Afterschool for All: Project 2010," which encourages universal access to afterschool in the U.S.; publishing "America After 3 PM: A Household Survey on Afterschool in America"; working through the Afterschool Technical Assistance Collaborative to advance afterschool in all 50 states; and organizing "Lights On Afterschool" and the Afterschool for All Challenge, two annual, national grassroots events.