After-School All-Stars is a national non-profit organization that partners with schools across the United States to expand the learning day for low-income children. It provides after-school programs. Currently, ASAS serves nearly 92,000 students on over 400 school sites in 14 regions across 10 states.
History
ASAS history begins in Los Angeles, where, in 1991, ASAS founder Arnold Schwarzenegger was invited to serve as Executive Commissioner of the Inner City Games by Daniel Hernandez of the Hollenbeck Youth Center. ICG was a citywide health and fitness program designed to help at-risk youth develop self-esteem and a sense of personal value. The powerful impact ICG had on its young participants was unmistakable and inspired the creation of the Inner City Games Foundation in 1992. Between 1992 and 2000, ICGF expanded to 15 additional cities across the country. Based on research, experience, and dialogue with law-enforcement, it was clear that the after-school hours were when children needed ASAS most. ICGF transformed its model to provide after-school programming that was offered every day of the school year, supplemented with additional summer programming. In 2003, ICGF was renamed After-School All-Stars to reflect the significant enhancement of programming and holistic approach to extended-day learning. ASAS currently serves over 92,000 low-income, at-risk youth at 400 Title I schools in 15 major cities across the country: Atlanta, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Orlando, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, and Toledo. 93% of ASAS students are minority, 86% qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program and 62% are in the middleschool grades. Together they championed a national effort found through the Inner-City Games Foundation established in 1995
Students who want to be a part of ASAS do not have to pay any fees. ASA focuses its effort on Title I schools. These are schools where "50% of students qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program". ASAS has about 367 chapters across the United States. Students never have to travel alone to a program and because programs are run as close to the schools as possible, otherwise transportation services are provided by ASAS.
Target Market
ASAS primarily serves children at the middle school level because it is usually the most neglected age group for after school programs. Most middle school students do not have the luxury of daycare services or after school activities and are often left with few to none safe activities to engage in after school from 3pm-6pm. Several studies have shown that if students are left alone and on their own during these hours, they are more likely to become involved with "gangs, crime, drugs and unsafe sex."
