Pajama Program's Special Valentine's Campaign Provides Sweet Dreams for Kids With 2010 'OPEN YOUR HEART' Theme

NEW YORK, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- In the spirit of Valentine's Day, Pajama Program, a 501(c)3 national children's charity, today announced the kick off of its 2010 "OPEN YOUR HEART" fundraising and awareness campaign through February 28. The Pajama Program's OPEN YOUR HEART campaign is bringing together corporate sponsors and individuals from across the nation, all with the goal of providing love and comfort — a Valentine's Day "Hug" — through donations of warm sleepwear and nurturing books to kids in need during the cold, winter months. To learn about and participate in the Pajama Program OPEN YOUR HEART campaign, visit http://www.pajamaprogram.org.

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Bob's Discount Furniture; Carter's; 24-hour preschool television channel, Sprout; and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts are among the corporate sponsors for OPEN YOUR HEART, each getting involved in their respective communities by spreading awareness, organizing pajama drives and donating sleepwear and books throughout the month of February.  

"We are honored to have these wonderful businesses on our side as we enter the harshest months of 'Danger Season,'" said Genevieve Piturro, founder of Pajama Program.  Pajama Program has dubbed the period from October through March as "Danger Season," the block of six cold and lonely months between October 1 and March 31 in which it is especially dangerous for a child to be without warm clothing at bedtime.

"Giving a child in need a pair of warm pajamas and a book to read is like giving them a hug before they go to bed. So as we all celebrate Valentine's Day with loved ones -- and especially during the cold month of February -- our corporate sponsors, volunteers and supporters hope to send these cuddly, loving hugs to thousands upon thousands of kids."

Thousands of children served by Pajama Program live in orphanages, group homes and shelters. In the U.S. foster care system, alone, there are more than 500,000 children.  Every two seconds another child enters the system. Many have been abandoned or abused, and have never enjoyed the simple comfort of putting on a cozy pair of pajamas and having a mother or father tuck them in at bedtime and read to them.  Teens in the system have often spent most of their childhood without warm sleepwear or the chance to read themselves to sleep.  Since 1981, Pajama Program has provided more than 513,000 pairs of new pajamas and 230,000 books to children in need.

BOB'S DISCOUNT FURNITURE

For the past three years, Bob's Discount Furniture through its ongoing Bob's Outreach Program, has partnered with Pajama Program, hosting pajama drives that resulted more than 6,000 new pajamas and books from generous customers at their New England, New Jersey and New York locations.  This coming year, Bob's will be the primary sponsor for the 2010 Open Your Heart campaign and will collect new pajamas and books at all Bob's Discount Furniture stores on February 27, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Families will also have the opportunity to meet famous Nickelodeon© TV characters.  Additionally, President and Founder Bob Kaufman will be greeting customers at the Manchester, C.T. store, while PR Director and TV Spokesperson Cathy Poulin will be in the Yonkers, N.Y. location.

Named the 2008 Furniture Retailer of the Year, with 35 – soon to be 36 - stores located throughout New England, New Jersey and New York, Bob's Discount Furniture has built strong brand awareness and customer loyalty by providing quality furniture at everyday low prices, combined with a unique and enjoyable shopping experience. Through the Bob's Discount Furniture Charitable Foundation and Bob's Outreach program, Bob Kaufman, Cathy Poulin and all of Bob's Discount Furniture employees support hundreds of nonprofit organizations with sponsorships and charitable contributions.  For more information about Bob's Discount Furniture and their ongoing charitable involvement, please visit www.mybobs.com/charity.

CARTER'S

Carter's, the number one children's brand, selling over 10 products for every child born in the U.S., will partner with the Pajama Program's OPEN YOUR HEART campaign to provide more than $100,000 (MSRP) worth of children's sleepwear. This donation not only fits with Carter's promise to "create a truly warm experience," but also will provide the basic need of essential sleepwear to needy kids.

SPROUT®

To aid Pajama Program's OPEN YOUR HEART campaign, Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, will be hosting "Great Sprout Tuck-In" pajama and book drives in 10 select markets. These events will extend Sprout's "good night" mission and encourage families to share in the spirit of giving.  As Pajama Program's national media partner, Sprout has created on-air public service announcements that introduce "The Great Sprout Tuck-In" and the mission of Pajama Program, communicate the spirit of giving in a child's life and drive people to SproutOnline.com to donate. Currently, Sprout is available in 48 million unique households. To find out where Sprout is available in your area, call 1.8.SPROUT.411 or go to SproutPlease.com.

FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS

A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts of the US West celebrates its fourth year of participation with Pajama Program. Participating Fairmont properties, including Fairmont San Francisco, the Fairmont San Jose, the Fairmont Newport Beach, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, and the Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square (San Francisco) hope to collect thousands of new pajamas, books and cash donations from guests, employees and community members on Friday, February 12, 2010 at each of the above properties. A number of the hotels will also encourage community advocates' participation in the PJ Drive by hosting a drawing for a "sleepovers" for two (one night complimentary stay), two Fairmont bathrobes, two Fairmont pairs of slippers, two Fairmont teddy bears, and milk and cookies too.

Fairmont hotels are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travelers can discover culturally rich experiences that are authentic to the destination. Situated in some of the most exclusive and pristine areas in the world, Fairmont is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program.  Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 94 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissotel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.

ABOUT THE PAJAMA PROGRAM

Pajama Program, established in 2001, is a 501(c)3 national children's charity run by its Founder and Executive Director, Genevieve Piturro. Pajama Program's mission is to provide new, warm pajamas and new books to children in need nationwide. Pajama Program has 70 chapters across the United States with headquarters in New York City. Pajama Program also operates three Pajama Program Reading Centers in New York, NY; Yonkers, NY and Red Bank, NJ. For more information visit www.PajamaProgram.org.  Follow The Pajama Program online at http://www.facebook.com/PajamaProgram and at http://www.twitter.com/pajamaprogram.

To make a much needed and greatly appreciated financial contribution to Pajama Program, visit http://www.pajamaprogram.org/donate.html or donate via Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/309815?m=3f1cca43.

To learn about donating new pajamas or new books, to conduct your own local Pajama Program Drive or event, or to become a beneficiary receiving organization of the Pajama Program, visit http://www.pajamaprogram.org/donate.html.

SOURCE Pajama Program