Community Pep Rally With Local Companies Celebrates Student Successes And Importance Of After-School Programs

International chef, Leonardo La Cava and the children of After-School All-Stars
International Chef, Leonardo La Cava and the children of After-School All-Stars
International chef, Leonardo La Cava and the students of , After-School All-Stars

Pep Rally and Celebration Included Kickball with Miami Marlins, Cooking Class with International Chef, and STEM Robotics Class with FPL

On October 20th, After-School All-Stars (ASAS) celebrated  “Lights On Afterschool,” a nationwide celebration to raise awareness about the importance of afterschool programs for children, families and communities and to advocate for increased investment in the afterschool field.  ASAS chapters across the country hosted dozens of events and millions of people in over 8,000 communities nationwide participated in the 17th annual “Lights On Afterschool” campaign organized by Afterschool Alliance.

As part of the national celebration, After-School All-Stars South Florida, the local ASAS chapter, hosted a hands-on showcase celebration and pep rally on October 20th from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Kinloch Park Middle School.

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Miami Marlins cheerleader and After-School All-Stars students

Eighty students participated in high-energy activities including: a kickball game and “spin the wheel” game with the Miami Marlins and team executives; healthy cooking and meatball rolling contest with international chef, Leonardo La Cava and MIC Food; robotics class with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL); and live junior broadcasting interviews directed by FOX Sports Florida. The festivity culminated with a spirited pep rally, with DJ Ryan of the Irie Foundation, and with “The Fittest Man on Earth,” three-time Crossfit Masters champion, Shawn Ramirez, who shared inspirational words with the students.

“Our programs provide a safe haven for students during the ‘danger hours’ of 3-6 p.m., the peak hours for juvenile crime and unsafe behaviors,” stated Natalia Sol, VP of External Relations for After-School All-Stars. “The support of afterschool programs and events like ‘Lights on Afterschool’ are vital give our kids the confidence and tools they need to have brighter futures and make positive contributions to their communities.”

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Charles Knight, Area Manager, External Affairs at FPL With All-Stars students

Event partners included MetroPCS, Florida International University, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Creative Artists Agency,  21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) and Afterschool Alliance.

After-School All-Stars is the largest comprehensive, school-based afterschool program in the United States.  It serves over 70,000 students nationwide in 353 schools across 19 chapters, including 2,000 students in 18 schools throughout South Florida.

For more information on After-School All-Stars South Florida and this event, please contact Natalia Sol at natalia@as-as.org or call 305.332.9090.

About After-School All-Stars
After-School All-Stars South Florida started as a small summer program for 48 kids in 1997 and has grown into a full service after-school program in 18 middle schools serving over 2,000 students each day. ASAS was founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger over two decades ago and has been empowering students by keeping them safe and helping them succeed in school and in life. Every school day, students in low-income communities have access to ASAS’s free programs that offer academic support, enrichment opportunities, and health and fitness activities. Visit www.sfasas.org or like us on www.facebook.com/sfasas.

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