TONIGHT: Light On After School event

The nationwide celebration of afterschool programs Light On After School is back.

The Montclair Community Center will be one of more than 7,500 sites across the nation sending the message that after school programs are the key to children's success.

Principals, teachers, city members, community members, family and friends are welcome to join in the city's ninth annual Lights On After School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at 5111 Benito St., Montclair.

The program will consist of a half hour ceremony and cultual exhibition, slide shows, perfrming arts and refreshments.

The event is open to all.

In a recent study, an expenditure of $10,038 over grades one through nine in after school programs benefits society (including taxpayer, victims of crime and individual participants) in a monetary value of $79,484 to $119,427.

In other words, an at-risk child who becomes a career criminal costs society up to $1.7 million over his or her lifetime compared to an at-risk child who is enrolled in an after school program who benefits by society returning $8.92 to $12.90 for each dollar invested.