25th Anniversary Newsletter Series - Edition 1 of 12

Friday, November 7, 2025

Prime Time Palm Beach County

Celebrates

25 Years of Impact

Watch Prime Time's 25th Anniversary Video Premiere

Recognizing a Critical Window 

In the mid-1990s, community leaders in Palm Beach County recognized a pivotal challenge: the hours after school and before parents and guardians returned home represented a “prime time” for either positive growth or risky behavior among children and youth. This realization sparked a countywide effort to turn that window into an opportunity for learning, connection, and enrichment. 


From Collaboration to Creation 

Caption: Prime Time’s first logo. 


In 1996, local partners began meeting to improve coordination and quality across afterschool and summer programs. Out of this collaboration came a shared vision:  

Ensure every young person in Palm Beach County had access to safe, high-quality 
out-of-school time (OST) experiences. 

By 2000, this vision took root as a new nonprofit organization: Prime Time Palm Beach County, Inc. Its mission was simple yet powerful: 

 Help children and youth succeed by  

strengthening and expanding quality in the OST field. 

Building Quality, Empowering Providers, Earning Trust 

Caption: Prime Time’s Katherine Gopie delivers training Certificate of Completion to afterschool professional in May of 2007. 

Caption: Prime Time’s Teal Chance hosts the Advancing Afterschool Awards as part of its annual Afterschool Symposium in May 2012. 

Early on Prime Time focused on developing quality standards, providing professional development for OST practitioners, and creating systems to assess and improve program quality. These efforts established Prime Time as a trusted leader and partner in our community, schools and programs. 

Growing and Adapting Together 

Caption: A virtual ELO session provided by Prime Time provider Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County in 2023. 


As community needs evolved, so did Prime Time. The organization expanded its programs and partnerships, offering more opportunities for youth and training for professionals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Time quickly transitioned to virtual supports and online enrichment, ensuring that children and families continued to benefit from meaningful out-of-school experiences. 



Our Lasting Impact 

Caption: Prime Time Quality Advisors Anita Winkis and Andrea Hurtado provide coaching to afterschool professionals on-site. 


Today, Prime Time continues to serve as pillar of support for Palm Beach County, connecting programs, supporting providers, and ensuring that every hour after school counts. Through ongoing collaboration and innovation, Prime Time remains dedicated to empowering the adults who serve youth and inspiring the next generation to reach their full potential. 

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CELEBRATE OUR 25TH ANNIVERSARY ON MAY 8, 2026

👉 Stay connected as we honor our past, celebrate the present and build the next 25 years together.

Visit www.primetimepbc.org/25-years to follow the journey.

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