October
11th: Local Youth Will Unite
to
Celebrate, to Remember and to Prepare
(October 1, 2001)(Dallas, TX) � One month after the September 11th tragedy,
Camp Fire USA Lone Star Council will sponsor city-wide events in conjunction
with the Afterschool Alliance�s national “Lights on Afterschool”
program. The events, which are designed to increase public support for the
critical issue of afterschool programs for young people, will also provide local
youth with the opportunity to remember the New York City tragedy and to prepare
for their future.
“It is important for us all, but especially for these children, to
realize that we are all in this together,” said
Tim James, Executive Director of Camp Fire USA Lone Star Council. “We all
have our part to play.”
Camp Fire USA has been playing its part in Dallas since 1913. Now serving
both boys and girls, the organization�s Kids Club program offers school-age
children free activities during non-school hours. On October 11, each of these
Kids Club — which are located in local apartment communities — will sponsor
its own special events in honor of September 11th.
Yolanda Santos, Program Director for the Lone Star Council, will also
integrate Kahn Elementary�s 21st Century Community
Learning Center into the celebration. This site will be the central focus of
Camp Fire USA�s Lights on Afterschool festivities; parents, teachers and
children will enjoy a full program of activities, including a flag
presentation by a local youth “color guard” and a
performance by one of Camp Fire USA�s own Kids Clubs. Highlighting
the contributions of firefighters in the rescue efforts, Camp Fire USA will
recognize the efforts of rescue workers that
work in the local area. Neighborhood firemen will attend, and the local
fire chief will give a short speech in honor of his comrades in New York.
“This event has really reminded us of how important these men and women
are to our lives,” said Tim James. “The New York firemen are now
national heroes, but we want to recognize our local heroes — those rescue
workers who often go unrecognized for their tremendous service.”
Lights on Afterschool will unite two of Camp Fire USA‘s
most important programs in a celebration of their ability to keep young people
safe while providing them with substantive, structured, effective programming
outside of school.
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