ASAS-LA Dance Marathon Open to All on Saturday, June 17, 2017, from Noon to 4pm at Ohm Nightclub in Hollywood CA

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA, June 7, 2017 /EINPresswire.com/ -- After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles (ASAS-LA) is hosting the All-Star Dance Marathon (“Dancing Today for Tomorrow”), a celebratory awareness and fund-raising event on Saturday, June 17, 2017, from Noon to 4pm at Ohm Nightclub in Hollywood CA. The All-Star Dance Marathon has taken on a new meaning in light of the Trump Administration’s 2018 budget proposal that would eliminate funding for after-school programs nationwide. If approved by Congress, 1.6 million of the nation’s poorest, most vulnerable students would be denied a safe learning environment after school while they’re parents are working. In California, while the state legislator has passed a promising bill that would actually increase funds for CA-based after-school programs, Governor Brown has a long track record of not signing similar legislation into law. The bill’s fate remains uncertain at this time.

“After-school programs all over the country are being threatened not only with budget cuts, but with outright elimination,” says Ana Campos, President and CEO of ASAS-LA. “Here in Los Angeles, we serve 15,000 K-12 students a year in more than 50 schools. Overall, statewide, after-school programs serve 859,000 low-income students in 4,500 schools. California lawmakers have not increased funding for these 1programs since its inception in 2006. With minimum wages rising sharply, the budget shortfall leaves us struggling financially every year, unable to hire enough qualified staff to serve our student population. Losing after-school programs would have a devastating impact not only on the kids, but also on families, employers and local safety.”

In this environment, ASAS-LA’s All-Star Dance Marathon is making a statement. “It is at once a fun and unique way to celebrate our accomplishments, give thanks to our supporters and attract donations and new sponsors,” says Campos, “but it is also a call to solidarity and action for everyone who cares about the educational potential and ultimate futures of these amazing kids. I hope everyone will come out to watch or participate in our Dance Marathon and support our cause on June 17th. It’s only four hours long on a Saturday afternoon and promises to be a blast. I also urge everyone to work through our national and regional organizations to bring pressure to bear on state and federal legislators to do the right thing for after-school programs. We’re fighting for our lives this year.”

Campos and ASAS-LA are advocating that all after-school supporters join the Afterschool Alliance’s National Day of Action on Wednesday, June 7th. The Alliance is asking that everyone pick up the phone and use their free call-in tool to lobby individual representatives to protect after-school programs. The call-in will be timed to a group of All-Stars from across the country taking to Capitol Hill to do the same in person. Watch the Alliance’s video to see how easy it is to contact your representatives and RSVP on Facebook for a reminder to join the call-in day and for access to a sample call script and tips for success.

In California, Campos and ASAS-LA are supporting The Partnership for Children & Youth (CA3) in organizing call-ins and letter-writing campaigns to members of the full budget committees for the Senate and Assembly. Once members of the Budget Conference Committee have been announced, CA3 will focus its efforts on those members and especially on Governor Brown. In Los Angeles, support will continue to be particularly essential with members Mitchell, DeLeon and Rendon. For more information, go to CA3 website and join the campaign.

By far the best way to support the cause locally is to buy tickets to or become a sponsor of the ASAS-LA’s Dance Marathon. New sponsors including Walter Lantz Foundation, Curacao, The MOCA Foundation, Fremont College, Alston & Bird LLP, ImageFIRST and Avalon Bay Communities, Inc. have stepped up to make the event successful.

For more information about the All-Star Dance Marathon, how to join or create a team and buy tickets or become a sponsor, go to: https://give.classy.org/asasladancemarathon

For more general information about After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles, please visit the website www.la-allstars.org

For media inquires or to arrange an interview with Ana Campos, please contact Scott Busby at The Busby Group - scottb@thebusbygroup.com or 310.475.2914.

Scott Busby
The Busby Group
3104752914
email us here

ASAS-LA Celebrity Ambassador Jessie Malay Invites You to the All-Star Dance Marathon on Saturday, June 17, 2017