The After-School All-Stars (ASAS) – a leading national provider of year-round, school-based, comprehensive after-school programs – is launching a chapter in the Puget Sound region and Kent’s Meeker Middle School is the program’s inaugural school site.<\/p>\n
The launch party is 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Museum of Pop Culture, 325 5th Ave. N., Seattle.<\/p>\n
“After-school programs cut truancy and keep children safe,” said Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke, who is expected to join the celebration with state, federal and regional leaders. “ASAS’s partnership with Kent School District will have a positive and very meaningful impact on the families and students who call our community home.”<\/p>\n
With the launch of its latest program, ASAS serves more than 70,000 students in 351 schools and 19 chapters throughout the United States.<\/p>\n
The New York Life Foundation supports the program. The Kent School District and the Puget Sound Educational Service District worked in bringing ASAS to the Puget Sound region.<\/p>\n
“We can’t do this work alone,” said Arnold Schwarzenegger, founder of ASAS, in a statement. “It takes partners like New York Life Foundation, the city of Kent and the Kent School District to expand our programming, reach more schools, and help more students. It’s fantastic to see everyone getting to work in the Puget Sound region.”<\/p>\n
The launch event will include an interactive program activity designed to maximize interaction between students and adults. The program will feature a high-energy, fast-paced career exploration session, student performances and short speeches from VIP guests. Images and artwork from ASAS Puget Sound’s photography and art program will be on display, and students from the DJ\/music production program will provide music throughout the evening.<\/p>\n
King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, representatives of Sen. Patty Murray, Congressmen Dave Reichert and Adam Smith, and other civic officials are expected to attend.<\/p>\n
“The New York Life Foundation is proud to support the expansion of After-School All-Stars into the Puget Sound region. High quality, after-school programs like After-School All-Stars leverage community resources, provide engaging learning opportunities for kids and help working families in under resourced communities,” said Marlyn Torres, senior program officer, New York Life Foundation. “Middle school students are historically under served by after-school programs. There are programs for elementary school students in the form of structured day care. High schools offer clubs, teams and extra-curricular activities. However, middle school students are often left with few safe and enriching opportunities between 3 and 6 p.m. ASAS helps to solve this problem by engaging kids in constructive activities during these critical hours.”<\/p>\n
“From academic assistance to mentorship to health and fitness activities, ASAS provides students and their families with the extra support they need to excel,” said Ranna Daud, Executive Director of ASAS Puget Sound.<\/p>\n
Daud, a veteran after-school advocate who previously ran the ASAS Las Vegas chapter, now oversees ASAS Puget Sound programs, including robotics, coding, DJ\/music production, cooking, photography, career exploration, service learning, and sports and fitness. Under Daud’s direction, certified teachers provide students with academic coaching and all ASAS participants receive a healthy snack at no cost.<\/p>\n
“Our goals are to lower absenteeism, improve academic performance, and provide greater motivation to graduate from high school and attend college,” Daud said.<\/p>\n
“The mission of After-School All-Stars is to provide free, comprehensive after-school programs to the kids who need them the most,” said Ben Paul, president and CEO of ASAS. “Thanks to our partners at the New York Life Foundation we have expanded our programming considerably and now reach more children grappling with the circumstance of poverty than ever before. I am excited to support the launch of our Puget Sound chapter and know that it will help countless kids stay safe and succeed in school and life.”<\/p>\n
To learn more, visit as-as.org<\/a> and newyorklifefoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n