Advocacy
FAN Panel of Champions
Mission and Vision
The mission of the Florida Afterschool Network (FAN) is to provide unified leadership to advocate for the development, enhancement, and sustainability of innovative, high-quality afterschool programs and policies statewide.
The vision of FAN is that every child has high-quality afterschool opportunities that are accessible, affordable, accountable, and inclusive.
FAN Panel of Champions
The Panel of Champions is a group of prestigious and well connected business and community leaders, public figures, funders, and public officials who will lend their names and influence to the issue of quality afterschool in Florida.
The concept allows panel champions to be called upon as needed, to help the Network with public policy, and to raise awareness throughout Florida around issues related to afterschool. Engaging highly visible and respected spokespersons to address the importance of afterschool to children, families, and the community will enhance the Network's ability to achieve its goals.
The concept of the Panel of Champions is appealing in its flexibility requiring a low-level of commitment from panel members, and offers the Network the opportunity to strategically request targeted assistance.
Request of Champions
Ideally, FAN would be able to call upon a panel champion once or twice per year to speak about the importance of quality afterschool programming for children, families, and the community as a whole.
Such presentations might take place at Chamber of Commerce or United Way meetings, as well as local legislative delegation meetings that seek input from the community.
Implementation
Ted Granger President & CEO United Way of Florida will help coordinate the implementation of the Panel of Champions
Our goal is to have 25 afterschool champions committed by December 31, 2010.
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to providing children in need with access to life-enriching afterschool programs that inspire children to be smart, strong and socially responsible. To date, JCPenney and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund have contributed more than $80 million to local afterschool programs in every JCPenney community through partnerships with the YMCA of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National 4-H and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). For more information, visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.