Afterschool Program Photo Contest Winners Announced

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Timber Lakes Extended Day program in Orlando, Florida is the grand prize winner in a photography contest sponsored by Bright House Networks and open to afterschool programs across the country.  The program will receive a cash award of $2,000 for its photo collage depicting youth celebrating Lights On Afterschool Family Game Night. 

The three second-place winners are: Booker T. Washington Beacon 54 (a program of Harlem Children's Zone) in New York City, New York; Mount Pleasant Kidsplus in Concord, North Carolina; and Cache Valley Volunteer Center in Logan, Utah. Each will receive a cash award of $1,000. 

"Afterschool programs do so much for our children, our families and our communities," said Reinaldo Llano, Director of Corporate Community Relations for Bright House Networks. "This contest is another wonderful opportunity to celebrate Lights On Afterschool and highlight all the wonderful and exciting learning activities students engage in after school.

Bright House Networks and the Afterschool Alliance held the photo contest in conjunction with the 14th annual Lights On Afterschool, the only nationwide rally for afterschool programs.  More than 7,500 programs across the country participated in Lights On Afterschool this October.  Organized by the Afterschool Alliance, the event shines a light on the many ways that afterschool program keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.  Contest photos depicted kids enjoying a wide array of activities, from graphic design, sports and dancing to robotics, chemistry and glass blowing. More than 11,000 votes were cast on the Bright House Networks Facebook page from all over the world, including Kenya and Saudi Arabia.  Prizes were awarded to programs whose photos won the most votes.  

Five additional programs received special prizes from their Statewide Afterschool Network, ranging from program supplies to free staff training. Those programs are:

• Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville, Fayetteville, Arkansas;
• Midway Youth Center, Chicago, Illinois;
• YMCA Benchmarks, Silver Spring, Maryland;
• Kirtland Air Force Base Youth Programs, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and
• Aspire at Academy at C.F. Thomas Elementary, Fort Worth, Texas.

"These photos and the thousands of others submitted illustrate just how important afterschool programs are to our students," said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance. "You can see it in the smiling faces, in the postures of youth who are intent on conducting science projects or creating artwork, in the concentration in the eyes of children learning a dance or a musical instrument. Every day, these programs enrich the lives of our students and our communities and we are so thankful to Bright House Networks for shining a light on them."

The Afterschool Alliance organized the first Lights On Afterschool in 2000 to shine a light on the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families.

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs.  More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

About Bright House Networks
Bright House Networks is the sixth largest owner and operator of cable systems in the U.S. and the second largest in Florida, with technologically advanced systems located in five states including Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan and California.

Bright House Networks serves approximately 2.5 million customers who subscribe to one or more of its video, high-speed data, home security and automation and voice services. The company offers a portfolio of customizable, cutting-edge business solutions spanning Internet, MEF-certified Metro Ethernet, WiFi, security, telephony, and video. Bright House Media Strategies, the advertising arm of Bright House Networks, offers businesses advanced targeted advertising solutions.  Bright House Networks also owns and operates exclusive local news and sports channels in its Florida markets.

For more information about Bright House Networks or our products and services, visit brighthouse.com.

SOURCE Bright House Networks