The Learning for a Lifetime Foundation announced the grand opening of the Homework Plus Program, a new after school learning center for O'ahu keiki.

There will be a blessing of the new space 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday, September 30) at Palama Settlement. Keiki involved in the program will show samples of their homework and display artwork created in the program.

The Learning for a Lifetime Foundation, a local nonprofit organization, created the Homework Plus Program to provide a healthy environment for children whose parents are working in the after school hours.

Research shows that the best way to ensure academic success for your children is to have dinner as a family every night, said Margaret South, executive director of Learning for a Lifetime.

"For many families, this is simply not a reality, especially in the current economic climate," South said in a press release. "Children need to spend time with educated, caring adults.

"We are building an army of volunteers to try and meet that need in some small way," she said. "We're not their parents but we're the second best thing. If you have a couple of hours a week to spend with a child, sitting with him while he does his homework, you could make a huge difference in someone's life."