MERIDIAN, MS — American Idol's Bo Bice visited Peavey on November 28, 2006, as a celebrity judge in the Peavey "Afterschool (Not) Idle" K-12 singing competition finals, the centerpiece event of Lights On Afterschool. Bice addressed the afterschool-program kids, media and state leaders after helping crown Marisa Potate the winner of $1000 in Peavey gear and studio time with backing musicians. "Afterschool programs are very important, because you never know who might be the next singing or guitar virtuoso," said Bice. "It's inspiring to see so many talented kids get excited about music, and to see this community rally around afterschool programs."
Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide rally that emphasizes the importance of afterschool programs. Peavey presented Meridian's first Lights On event in 2005, and expanded its event this year to include a singing competition that drew entries from across Mississippi and Alabama.
"We want to draw attention to the importance of afterschool programs and hopefully provide a spark for these students' creative development," said Mary Peavey, president of Peavey Electronics. "'Afterschool (Not) Idle' allowed us to address the need for afterschool programs directly to our civic leaders, while also giving the kids a fun, creative outlet."
Potate won the "Afterschool (Not) Idle" Grand Prize with her rendition of "And I Am Telling You," by Jennifer Holliday. Mallory Broadus of Thomasville, Ala., the first runner up, won $750 in Peavey gear, while Meridian sister act Angela and Zandreya Fowler won $500 in Peavey gear.
Peavey Electronics founder and CEO Hartley Peavey served as a judge during the event, along with Bice and Peavey's own Mark Pinske.
Lights On Afterschool is presented nationally by the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to afterschool programs by the year 2010.
More information on this organization is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
