Sleep Country USA's Foster Kids Program Announces 61% Increase

Furniture World Magazine

This year has been unlike any other in recent history for Sleep Country USA communities in the Pacific Northwest. Like much of the nation this year, supporters of Sleep Country USA’s Foster Kids Program entered the holiday season with a drastically reduced spending budget and also faced severe weather that debilitated much of the region, preventing shoppers from getting to malls and delaying delivery of online purchases. Despite these challenges, Sleep Country USA, the Northwest’s largest seller of premium mattresses, collected 14,000 toys and gifts for foster children, up from 8,460 the year prior. The Sleep Country USA Foster Kids program celebrated a significant and steady year over year increase in 2008, collecting more than 82,000 items for foster children, including clothing, coats, shoes, toys, and school supplies – a spike upwards of 30,000 more items obtained than in 2007, a 61% rise in donations. The company also raised more than $80,000 in its bi-city Pajama Bowl events, an increase of $18,000 from the year prior. Sleep Country USA started the Foster Kids Program in 2005, demonstrating three years of consecutive growth, which it strives to maintain with focused community outreach, word-of-mouth expansion, and ongoing marketing efforts, including notable advertising and public relations campaigns. “The remarkable generosity from our community during this holiday drive and throughout the entire year has been profound,” said Terry Horsley, Vice President of Brand Strategy. “To hear stories from families and companies that made significant donations of toys and games to help local foster children in lieu of personal gifts is magical. We are extremely proud to be able to have such an impact on the foster organizations and even prouder to be part of such an inspiring community that played an important role in making the holidays special for those in need.” Sleep Country USA kicks off its 2009 Foster Kids program with its Pajama Drive. Donations of new pajamas in all sizes from infant to teen can be dropped off at any of the company’s more than 70 stores in Washington and Oregon. The drive ends on Sunday, February 15th in Washington State and Portland, and March 8th in Bend and Eugene, Oregon. For more information on Sleep Country USA’s Foster Kids Program, or to find the Sleep Country USA store nearest to you to make a donation, visit www.sleepcountry.com. Sleep Country knows that while not everyone can be a foster parent, anyone can help a foster child. About Sleep Country USA: Sleep Country USA is the No. 1 mattress seller in the Northwestern United States, with more than 70 mattress retail stores throughout Washington and Oregon. The company was founded in 1991 and features top-quality brand-name mattresses and premium adjustable beds, futons, and wood and metal accent beds. The company is active in its communities, hosting ongoing events that benefit the area’s more than 26,000 foster children. For more information about Sleep Country USA or the Sleep Country Foster Kids program, visit www.sleepcountry.com. .