Don't Cut After-School Funding For Connecticut Children

We need your support again.

Choices for Success, the Connecticut after-school program you helped to save by signing our petition to CT Governor Malloy, is sponsoring a walk-a-thon team - the CHOICES CHAMPS - for the Child Guidance Center's annual walk-a-thon fundraiser, at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, CT, on Sunday, June 2nd. 

The Child Guidance Center is our parent organization and has served the Norwalk-area community with free behavioral, mental health and after-school services for almost 60 years, serving approximately 2,500 individuals annually. 

Would you please help sponsor our team, the CHOICES CHAMPS, with a small donation of $10 or $20? 

The link is below. Thanks for your support!  Please forward this to all your contacts. It will be a fun and beautiful day at Calf Pasture for the whole family- prizes, gifts, tee-shirts, food face painting - donate AND run, bike or walk! http://norwalkbikerun.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1067818&lis=0&kntae1067818=94522EC7BAA248479B6B81BDC7690DA8&team=5510487

Dear Supporters: This is probably our last update before reaching our goal of 3,000 signatures.  If we could hug each and every one of you for your support we would … you're the best.  However, before we reach our goal, we'd like to take this time to describe what we think quality after-school programs do best, not only here in Connecticut but all over the country. QUALITY AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS CAPITALIZE ON TEACHABLE MOMENTS.  Nowadays, that's something that simply doesn't happen enough during the regular school day, where classroom teachers are forced to maintain a rigorous schedule of pushing through content in order to make the "grade" on standardized testing.  But is that authentic learning?  Learning that stays with a child, learning that inspires valuable connections, inquisitiveness and critical thinking.  We think not.  However, that's exactly where after-school programming makes the biggest impact. 

In after-school we have the time to explore the unusual, talk about the what-ifs and marvel at the sheer beauty – or sometimes silliness – of things.  After-school is where it's safe to make mistakes but try again, where kids are encouraged to get out of their comfort zone and soar – or sometimes tip-toe – into new experiences.  After-school is where you can say, "I don't know how to do this," and be taught in a different way that works for you.  Teachable moments pop up constantly – like bubbles from a bubble wand – but you have to catch them quickly or they disappear.  They take the form of steam rising from a kettle, bees buzzing around a flower, clouds gliding across the sky, evenly dividing up supplies for an activity or simply discussing why Nike sneakers use the word Nike.  And, they happen a lot between 3pm and 6pm, in a safe, secure and nurturing environment that makes the most of them and, in doing so, really helps children flourish and succeed.  What could be better? 

Please continue to spread the word about why it's so important to SAVE AFTER-SCHOOL HERE IN CONNECTICUT BY ASKING GOVERNOR MALLOY NOT TO CUT $5 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING OF AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.  Thousands of students, and families, across Connecticut thank you.  

Dear Supporters:  Since "a picture is worth a thousands words" we've attached over a dozen so the you can actually SEE the types of activities that thousands of under-served Connecticut students enjoy and learn from in dozens of after-school programs throughout Connecticut.  If Governor Malloy cuts the $5 million in state funding typically allocated to after-school programming, many of our programs will have to shut their doors, and in doing so shut-down the unlimited potential and talents of many Connecticut kids.  Ironically, Governor Malloy's desire to put CT after-school funding on the "chopping block" comes at the same time that he is proposing $1.5 BILLION in financing for the UCONN campus.  There's a definite "disconnect" here that we need to bring to the Governor's attention because CT after-school programs are an integral part of the "pipeline" thats helps to place competent, motivated learners in our state university system.  

So, once again, we're asking you to contact friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to solicit their support in signing our petition.  Every single signature helps ... let's continue to fight the good fight.  We're humbled by your support and encouragement.

We will ultimately be combining our signatures with another petition to save CONNECTICUT AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS here in Connecticut, and anticipate being able to present Governor Malloy with over 5,000 signatures at the end of March.  However, to reach this goal we now need to "personally" email those friends, colleagues, family members, neighbors and young people who you know would want to support our cause, by simply signing our petition, but have not been contacted.  You'll be surprised by how much a personal note, with a heartfelt sentiment about why these programs are important, goes in increasing support.  Please take the time to do this - just contact one or two people who you think would be willing to help our cause.  You've been great - elementary, middle and high school students throughout Connecticut thank you for your concern and efforts on their behalf. 

Hey, People - We're now at 966 signatures with three days left.  Support has been great but let's try to boost our number even more.  The more signatures we can present to Governor Malloy the better.  Elementary, middle and high school students - especially under-served students - need our support to eventually succeed in college and the workplace.  After-school really does pick up the "slack" left but strained school budgets, larger class sizes and the "foolishness" of teaching to the test rather than simply instilling a love of lifelong learning.  Please sign today and send personal messages to friends, family members and colleagues who support the critical work of after-school in CT - we need their support, too.  Our children - all children - deserve no less.

This is AMAZING! Almost 800 signatures! Thanks to everyone for taking the time to support our students, programs, and hundreds of dedicated teachers, staff members, and volunteers across the Nutmeg state.

We all want to live and look forward to a brighter CT. After school programs are a way to ensure that we have a positive future in this state, in the US, and even worldwide.

Lets keep it going! Tell friends, family, co-workers, colleagues, contemporaries, rivals, enemies, even people you don't know; lets sign this petition and show that we all care. 

Thanks a million,

Choices For Success

Hey, Folks - We're up to 451 signatures ... with eight days left.  We can easily make our goal of 2,500 signatures if we just keep spreading the message among our friends and concerned citizens.  We've generated some great publicity and reporters have been calling to find out more - a very good sign.  With your help we'll not only keep After-School Programs alive and well in Connecticut, but we'll ultimately help them reach even more students with even BETTER after-school offerings.  So, thanks a million for your support  and keep those signatures coming in.  By the way, if Governor Malloy can find the money for a $1.6 billion expansion of UCONN's Stamford Campus, he certainly can find the $5 million needed to continue CT After-School so our students have the skills necessary to SUCCEED in college.