One Million Good Nights Nearing Half Way Mark Eight Months into Campaign

NEW YORK, May 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pajama Program's One Million Good Nights campaign, launched on October 1, 2013, has collected 460,362 pairs of new pajamas and 532, 959 new books, close to half the campaign goal of one million new pajamas and one million new books and the resources needed to deliver them promptly to children in need by December 31, 2015.

Lead One Million Good Nights sponsor Carter's, and lead book sponsor Scholastic, Inc. have been vital to the success of the One Million Good Nights campaign. Last fall, Carter's launched an in-store and online donation drive benefitting Pajama Program and collected more than $525,000 and 45,000 new pajamas from Carter's generous customers. Carter's donated an additional 45,000 pajamas to match their customers' generosity. In addition, Carter's had donated 100,000 pairs of pajamas in 2013. Scholastic donated 100,000 books and more than 84,000 pajamas through their ClassroomsCare program. The bitterly cold winter of 2013-14 inspired many to provide love, comfort, and warmth at bedtime in the form of new pajamas and new books to children in need during "danger season" from October-March.  

There are many ways that individuals, businesses, schools, and other organizations can help to provide One Million Good Nights. School children love having classroom Pajama Parties to donate new books and new pajamas, businesses adopt Pajama Program as their company charity and host drives and volunteer days; individuals send in the extra new pajamas and new books they picked up for children in need while shopping for their own kids or grandkids. 

The need for Pajama Program's services is growing at an alarming rate. Every night, more than 200,000 children go to bed in the U.S. in somewhere other than a home of their own. Childhood homelessness is also on the rise in America. 

• One in 5 American children live in poverty – a higher rate than any other developed country except for Romania
• 1,168,354 homeless students in the 2011-12 school year, 24% increase since 2009 (U.S. Department of Education)
• All but 6 states have experienced an increase in homeless children in 2012, with 10 states showing a 20% or greater increase (National Center for Homeless Education)
• The average age of a homeless person in the United States is 9 years old (Goldie's Place, a Support Center for People Who Are Homeless)
• Families with children make up the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population. In New York City, for example, 41.9% of the people in homeless shelters are children under 18 years old and 78.3% are members of families 

For more information about One Million Good Nights, including details about how to donate or volunteer, please visit Pajama Program at www.pajamaprogram.org or call 212-716-9757. 

About Pajama Program
Pajama Program is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to delivering new, warm pajamas and books to children in need, many of whom are without parents and/or permanent homes.  Pajama Program serves children ranging in age from newborn to 18 who live in group homes, shelters and temporary housing. Since 2001, Pajama Program has provided over 2 million new pajamas and books to children through 60 chapters across the United States. Pajama Program has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America's largest and most-utilized independent evaluator of charities. Pajama Program meets the Better Business Bureau's 20 charity standards, the highest ranking for non-profits.

*According to the National Center on Family Homelessness

SOURCE Pajama Program