(ARA) - All across the United States, communities joined the sixth annual Lights On Afterschool, the only nationwide rally for afterschool programs. Organized by the Afterschool Alliance with national presenting sponsor the JC Penney Afterschool Fund, Lights On Afterschool is held each October to shine a light on the need for more afterschool programs.

That need is significant. The hours after school can be a time to enrich children's lives, especially if those children have access to quality afterschool programs that inspire them to learn, help them explore their creativity and improve their academics skills.

But too many children have no afterschool program and no place to go after the school day ends. In fact, 14.3 million kindergarten through 12th-graders take care of themselves in the afternoons, according to a household survey conducted for the Afterschool Alliance with support from the J.C. Penney Co. Inc. The parents of 15 million children say their kids would participate if an afterschool program were available.

That's what Lights On Afterschool is about - giving every child a place to go after the school bell rings. It's about giving them constructive activities during those sometimes-perilous hours between 3 p.m., when school ends, and 6 p.m. when parents get home from work, so they don't get into trouble.

It's because afterschool programs are so important that parents, children, teachers, community leaders and others in big cities and small towns have joined Lights On Afterschool, to showcase the benefits afterschool programs provide and to encourage policy makers, businesses and foundations to provide more support. Among the 7,000 Lights On Afterschool events this year:

* Afterschool programs in Birmingham, Ala. partnered with the National Basketball Association's Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Bobcats to celebrate Lights On Afterschool at a pre-season NBA game. The game was held at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center Arena and included 20,000 afterschool youth from 13 schools systems and diverse community groups. Students displayed afterschool banners and their afterschool stories were featured during the game.

* Programs in Fresno, Calif. held Lights On Afterschool events for four consecutive nights, with different programs hosting an open house and rally each evening. Each event began with a presentation featuring that program's afterschool activities. Parents and community leaders then saw music, art, literacy, physical fitness, dance and interactive technology activities. ReadFresno gave a book to every participant at each site. Speakers from state and local government talked about the value of afterschool programs.

* In Evansville, Ind., the community gathered at Bosse Field, where "A League of Their Own" was filmed, for a community-wide Lights On event to celebrate Evansville being named one of the "One Hundred Best Communities for Young People" by America's Promise. There were fireworks, T-shirt giveaways, refreshments, prizes, games and student entertainment. More than 3,000 people and 40 community agencies attended the event. Upon arrival, students signed a pledge to remain drug- and alcohol-free.

* The Rhode Island statewide Lights On Afterschool Celebration began with an interactive learning gallery and student workshop. Students traveled through a gallery of fun and innovative learning activities collecting pieces to a puzzle. After collecting all the pieces, they completed the puzzle, which made a Lights On Afterschool light bulb. The bulb gave them access to the second part of the event, which included student testimonials, special speakers, and a presentation about the importance of afterschool programs by students from a local Boys & Girls Club.

"The huge number of Lights On Afterschool events all across America is evidence of the nation's growing commitment to afterschool programs," said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. "We are delighted with the huge number of events and the diversity of people participating in them this year. Increasingly, Americans recognize that our nation will be stronger when we make 'afterschool for all' a reality for all children and families."

Lights On Afterschool was launched in October 2000 with 1,200 events across the country. Last year, more than half a million people rallied at 7,000 events to show their support for afterschool programs. Actress Rhea Perlman is a National Spokesperson for Lights On Afterschool again this year. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is National Chair of Lights On Afterschool, a position he has held since 2001.

More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.