We've seen the Empire State Building, LA's Lindbergh Beacon and Mt. Rushmore lit up for Lights On Afterschool, the nation's celebration of afterschool programs. This year, we asked youto submityour plans toshine a spotlight on the importance of afterschool in your communityfor the Light Up a Landmark contest, generously sponsored by jcpenney. We received so many notable nominations that jcpenneymade 17 awards nationwide:two (2) $5,000 Megawatt prizes, and 15 $1,000 Spotlight prizes. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest, and to the thousands of organizations participating in Lights On Afterschool. See news release on the awards.

View photos from Light Up a Landmark events.

Megawatt Winners:

Spotlight Winners:

Event Summaries

Megawatt Winners:

Jacksonville, Florida

Friendship Fountain. Event sponsored by the Jacksonville Children's Commission. The event will feature a parade of approximately 500 children from area after-school programs along the waterfront of the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, culminating with a rally at Friendship Fountain. The Afterschool Alliance and jcpenney will release new state progress reports on afterschool at the event, and the celebration will include a drum line, cheers, a step performance, a chorus, testimonies from students and parents and remarks from local leaders. For more information, contact Jennifer Savage, 904/630-3404.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

LOVE Fountain, Boathouse Row, and the PECO Building’s 27th-floor Crown Lights. Event sponsored by the City’s afterschool networks. The City of Philadelphia will hold a rally on Thomas Paine Plaza across from City Hall and in view of the LOVE Fountain, colored blue in honor of Lights On Afterschool. The rally will feature youth performances and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter will proclaim October 20 Lights On Afterschool day. Similar Pennsylvania proclamations from the Governor and General Assembly will be read. The Afterschool Alliance and jcpenney will make remarks and City Council members and State elected officials are expected to join more than three hundred community members and commuters at this 4:30 pm celebration. Boathouse Row and the PECO Building's 27th-floor lights will be illuminated for two days in honor of the event. For more information, contact Jessica Borger, 215/825-8202.

Spotlight Winners (15):

Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Lake Havasu City London Bridge. Event sponsored by Havasu For Youth, which will host an afterschool rally at the London Bridge for Lights On Afterschool as part of its effort to inform the local community about the afterschool clubs available for kids. The store manager and staff from the local jcpenney will be honored guests, and Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen has been asked to proclaim October 20 Lights On Afterschool day for Lake Havasu City. For more information, contact Dianna Butler, 928/453-2426.

Compton, California

Civic Center Monument. Event sponsored by CUSD/ASES. The Civic Center monument, dedicated to the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, will radiate beams of light as more than 600 kids, parents and jcpenney employees perform Move Your Body to celebrate Lights On Afterschool. Move Your Body is part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative. The 70-foot monument, set against a background of splashing fountains, will display the message:“Afterschool Matters. ”For more information, contact LaTricia R. Scott, 310/898-6350.

Viera, Florida

Kennedy Space Center NASARocket Garden. Event sponsored by Brevard Public Schools with cooperation from NASA, Delaware North Parks and Recreation. Afterschool programs operated by Brevard Public Schools will light up the NASA Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The event, “3-2-1 Blast Off to Lights On Afterschool,” will include students and staff, school officials, community members, representatives from area jcpenney stores, school board members and local dignitaries. It is designed to increase awareness afterschool programs and the vital role they play in the lives of the 5,000 Brevard County elementary students who attend them, and their families. For more information, contact Todd Forschino, 321/633-1000.

Monticello, Kentucky

Hot Air Balloon. Event sponsored by Wayne County Schools, which will light up the sky with students’ floating lanterns made from tissue paper to resemble the full-size hot air balloon that will be present. All will be released following a news conference with Monticello Mayor Jeffrey Edwards and city and county officials, including the school superintendent. The Commissioner of Education, Mr. Terry Holliday has also been invited. The news conference will focus on the importance of afterschool programming and the success of the 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool programs. Local ROTC cadets will perform, and students from the 21st Century CARE Center will be on hand to demonstrate the kinds of learning that goes on after school including video animation. For more information, contact Katherine Kidd, 606/348-6691.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

La Grande Vitesse Sculpture. Event sponsored by Our Community's Children, which will hold the Lights On! Lives Changed! Shine on Afterschool Rally at Calder Plaza and shine multi-colored lights on the Grand Rapids symbol and sculpture, La Grande Vitesse, created by Alexander Calder. The colored lights symbolize the diversity, beauty and strength of Grand Rapidians who work to promote quality afterschool programs so that children are ready for college, work and life. More than 4,000 youth, parents, community and business leaders including representatives from jcpenney will participate. The event will feature performances by afterschool students, testimony from parents and youth, and city and state officials. For more information, contact Lynne Heemstra, 616/456-4353.

Duluth, Minnesota

Enger Tower. Event sponsored by YMCA Homecroft School’s Out. The YMCA is partnering with the City of Duluth to light up the newly-renovated Enger Tower. The event is open to all members of the community and will shine a light on the need for funding for area afterschool programs. Earlier in the week, the Tower will be rededicated at a ceremony with King Harald of Norway. King Harald’s father, King Olav, dedicated Enger Tower in 1939. Enger Tower is seen as a local symbol that ties together Duluth’s past and present. For more information, contact Lori Maly, 218/722-4745 ext 122.

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi Town Green. Event sponsored by Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast. Youth from Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast and area afterschool programs will light up the Biloxi Town Green with more than 200 luminaries placed around the perimeter of the park and hanging from trees. The Town Green is the site of the Hurricane Katrina Memorial. Biloxi Mayor A. J. Holloway, school superintendents, jcpenney representatives and other officials will join community members to enjoy a Pep Rally theme with entertainment by local groups competing in a “Cheer for Lights On Afterschool” contest. The event will include information tables, youth activities and refreshments. For more information, contact Michelle Wilson, 228/896-3770.

Great Falls, Montana

Historic Tenth Street Bridge. Event sponsored by Boys & Girls Clubs of Cascade County. The Club will hold an open house with dinner, speakers, prize drawings, and the illumination of the Tenth Street Bridge, a concrete arch bridge spanning the Missouri River. Built in 1920, the Bridge was repaired to function as a pedestrian bridge between Great Falls and the Black Eagle community. For more information, contact Quinn Boehme, 406/761-1330.

Newark, Ohio

Newark Courthouse, Chase Bank Tower, Longaberger Basket. Event sponsored by the Yes Clubhouse, which will celebrate Lights On Afterschool by lighting several local structures and unveiling a new addition to its facility for high school youth. Several hundred people are expected, along with partners including the Heath jcpenney store. Clubhouse staff will discuss afterschool programs and the purpose of Lights On Afterschool. The event will also include refreshments and live music. A huge spotlight will shine in the sky through the night. The event will culminate with the release of Japanese lanterns. For more information, contact Erin Dupler, 740/522-0937.

Del City, Oklahoma

Del City Neighborhood. Event sponsored by Del City Elementary, which is asking everyone in the neighborhood to turn on porch lights and other outdoor lighting for Lights On Afterschool. Businesses will light up marquees and all outdoor lighting. At the school, businesses, parents and partners will shine a light on their afterschool program with a carnival-like celebration open to the community. A hot air balloon will light up the night, along with other lighting. The celebration will also include: a petting zoo with a kangaroo, food, inflatable toys, talking parrots, a fire truck, archery, Tae Kwon Do, chess playing, Elvis, and many hands-on activities for the students. Local businesses will have booths with free information and prizes. Dr. Barresi, the state superintendent, Mayor Linley, Dr. Twidwell, district superintendent and many more state and local official will be attending. For more information, contact Ruth Kizer, 405/671-8640.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Event sponsored by Broughal Community School, in conjunction with ArtsQuest. They will light up five blast furnaces from the former Bethlehem Steel Corporation at the SteelStacks Campus in blue and yellow for Bethlehem Steel Corporation Blast Furnaces. Lights On Afterschool. The site represents the redevelopment of the largest industrial brownfield in the country. The event will include the premiere of the Broughal Community School video in the new SteelStacks theater, musical performances and displays of artwork by Broughal students. At its conclusion, the group will light up the Bridge Sculpture which spans 70 feet in length and is 30 feet tall with a natural gas flame. For more information, contact Alicia Searock, 610/866-5041 ext. 40.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Event sponsored by United Way of Allegheny County. Some 150 afterschool providers, youth, families, county/city leaders, state legislators, local foundations, and school districts will parade to the Fred Rogers Memorial Statue for a ceremonial lighting for Fred Rogers Memorial Statue. Lights On Afterschool. The statue will be illuminated with a "sweater" made of reflective material and LED lights. This will be the culminating event of the APOST (Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time) Lights On Afterschool celebration at the Carnegie Science Center where hundreds of out-of-school time providers will present their programs and engage in hands on activities. For more information, contact Aimee LeFevers, 412/456-6876.

La Porte, Texas

Event sponsored by Pasadena Independent School District and Battleship Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife. Students from twelve 21st Community Learning Center sites will meet at the Battleship Texas, anchored on the Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel. Known as a symbol of freedom, strength and courage, the Battleship will host students on its bough symbolically lighting the way to the future of opportunities given to those who emerge from their school years academically and socially prepared to enter college and the workforce. The event will include student performances and remarks by public officials about the importance of afterschool programs. For more information, contact Steven Villano, 713/ 740-5317.

Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Event sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County, in partnership with the Rice Lake jcpenney store, which will use Lincoln Clubhouse. Lights On Afterschool to promote its new Lincoln Clubhouse for elementary-age students. Children in the program will help drape the building with lights and participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Rice Lake Mayor Romaine Robert Quinn will issue a proclamation dedicating the day to afterschool programs. For more information, contact Kelly Ryder, 715/736-7445.

Ramstein, Germany

Event sponsored by Ramstein Youth Programs and Torch Club, which will coordinate the lighting of the mall – the largest on-base shopping center in Europe – in honor of Lights On Afterschool. Staff will hold an informational fair in the food court and an open house for families and educators that includes skill stations, displays, information sheets and a video produced by students from the Torch Club. The event will feature base commanders discussing how afterschool programs support military families, help kids develop resilience, and provide positive experiences for youth. Base leadership and officials from the national headquarters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America will participate. For more information, contact Mona Hamilton, 011-49-6371473080. Kaiserslautern Military Community Center Mall.