Hundreds of New York City Parents and Students Travel to Albany for "After-School Advocacy Day"

February 27, 2006

Contacts:
Emily Crossan, The Children’s Aid Society – (w) 917-286-1548, (c) 201-344-5742
Day-of-event contact: Katherine Eckstein, The Children’s Aid Society, (c) 917-312-3564

Children’s Aid Society to Send 3 Busloads of Passionate Advocates

When:
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
6:30 a.m.

Where:
The Children’s Aid Society Community School C.S. 61/I.S. 190
1550 Crotona Park East
Bronx

What:
Over 1,200 parents, students, providers and advocates from across New York State will rally in Albany on the morning of February 28th for increased funding for after-school programs. In the afternoon, they will visit legislators and plead their case in person.

The Children’s Aid Society will send 140 parents, students and staffers from New York City, including a busload from the Bronx, to participate in the 7th annual Advocacy Day. The Children’s Aid Society offers in-depth after-school programming at its community schools, public schools that combine education with a wide range of vital in-house health and social services.

**Parents and organizers from The Children’s Aid Society will be available for interview before the bus departs.**

Who:
Organized by the Coalition for After-School Funding, Advocacy Day allows stakeholders to convey the importance of after-school programs and funding to their legislators. After-school programs provide a safe place to enrich and supplement what children learn during the day, a crucial service for working families.

The Children’s Aid Society was founded in 1853. It is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving over 150,000 of New York’s neediest children and their families with a network of services that includes community schools, neighborhood centers, camps, adoption and foster care services, teen pregnancy prevention, education, health and recreation. For additional information please call 212-949-4938 or visit www.childrensaidsociety.org.