The organization launches a nationwide campaign for Valentine’s Day to continue its mission to provide pajamas and books for children in need across the country
January 22, 2015 (New York, NY) – In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Pajama Program will be launching a nationwide fundraising and awareness campaign, ‘OPEN YOUR HEART.’ The purpose of this campaign is to encourage individuals, companies and groups across the country to continue providing love and comfort for children in need throughout the remainder of ‘Danger Season.’
Danger Season is a term that Pajama Program created to represent the six months during the year when the temperatures across the country are often at their lowest – October through March. With freezing weather and record-low temperatures this year, Pajama Program is asking everyone to OPEN YOUR HEART this Valentine’s Day and provide love and warmth to underserved children in need of warm, cozy sleepwear.
Donations are most common during the holiday season posing a problem for children and teenagers that enter the system after December – especially in the brutally cold winter months. It is during this time that shelters, group homes and orphanages see an increase in capacity with limited resources.
Genevieve Piturro, Founder/Executive Director of Pajama Program says, “Giving a child in need a pair of warm pajamas and a book to read is like giving them a hug right 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 volunteers and supporters hope to send these cuddly, loving hugs to thousands of kids.”
Pajama Program and the millions of children in need of warm, cozy pajamas at bedtime are asking for YOUR help in spreading the word on OPEN YOUR HEART. Through this initiative, we remind those to continue donating because at Pajama Program, our ‘giving season’ is all year round.
Here are some shocking statistics to provide insight on just how many children need our help:
- 1 in 5 American children live in poverty – a higher rate than any other developed country except for Romania. (2013)
- Each year, over 800,000 children and youth in the United States experience homelessness. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Education)
- More than 16 million children in the United States – 22% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level. (Source: National Center for Children in Poverty)
- More than 3.5 million people are homeless every night, and 1.35 million are children. (Source: National Coalition for the Homeless)
- Of the 31.1 million people living in poverty, more than 12 million are children. (Source: Open Door Mission)
- The average age of a homeless person in the United States is 9 years old. (Open Door Mission)
For more information about Open Your Heart, please visit Pajama Program at: www.pajamaprogram.org
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 3 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.
