The Learning Lamp Keeps “Lights On” for After School Initiative

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Johnstown, PA (Oct. 21, 2014) – It’s time to shine a light on after school programs in the region! The Learning Lamp will take part in the Afterschool Alliance’s “Lights On Afterschool” celebration on Thursday, Oct. 23 at all 11 of its after school sites.

From 4:30 to 5 p.m., all students enrolled in The Learning Lamp’s after school programs will color light bulb cut-outs and string them together in an effort to show how after school programs light their paths to a brighter future. Afterward, all sites plan to send these light bulbs to each location’s corresponding state representative. The goal is to bring attention to the importance of after school programs and garner more state support for such initiatives.

“We’re standing with the Afterschool Alliance to demonstrate to our community how important after school programs are in children’s lives,” said Leah Spangler, chief executive officer at The Learning Lamp. “With these programs, we’re not only providing child care for families, we provide homework help, educationally-focused activities, character-enrichment programming and more. It’s something that’s truly made a difference in the lives of the children we serve.”

The Learning Lamp offers two types of after school care. It hosts eight sites throughout Cambria and Somerset Counties that offer care to elementary students at affordable rates, with some income-eligible families receiving tuition assistance.

The three remaining sites are part of The Learning Lamp’s free After School Outreach programs in the Johnstown neighborhoods of Moxham, Oakhurst and Prospect. Participants receive free homework help, a healthy meal and prevention programming in a safe environment Monday through Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. throughout the school year.

“Most of the kids who attend our programs need these safe havens in the after school hours, as the neighborhoods they live in can often be very unstable,” said Jenn Rager, The Learning Lamp’s outreachcoordinator. “When the kids step inside our programs, we strive to make them feel protected and help them grow into productive citizens. It’s all in an effort to bring out the best in these kids.”

According to the Afterschool Alliance, “15.1 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends.” In the hours between 3 and 6 p.m. on school days, the majority of juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, sex and alcohol.

After school programs help to battle this. A 21st Century Community Learning Centers report showed that “45 percent of all [after school] participants improved their reading grades, and 41 percent improved their math grades.” National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center (NYVPRC) found that children who do not spend any time in after-school activities are 49 percent more likely to use drugs and 37 percent more likely to become a teen parent.

The Learning Lamp is currently seeking volunteers at its free After School Outreach sites in Moxham, Prospect and Oakhurst. Call Jenn at 814-262-0732 if you are interested in lending a hand. Visit thelearninglamp.org for more information.

The Learning Lamp is a nonprofit organization with a mission to engage all children in the support they need to succeed. We deliver high quality programs that are affordable and accessible to families of all income levels. The Learning Lamp served 18,468 children from 70 school districts and 36 non-public and private schools and other organizations in 32 Pennsylvania counties in 2013.

Our programs include: one-to-one tutoring; before/after school programs; portable classrooms aimed at building math and science skills; alternative education programs for at-risk students; evidence-based prevention programs; online learning and credit recovery; SAT preparation; educationally-focused child care; literacy-based preschool programs; and grant writing and project consulting for schools.