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<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sleep Train, a West Coast mattress retailer based here, collected more than 160,000 items for foster children last year as part of its award-winning Foster Kids Program.<\/p>\n
Sleep Train, a West Coast mattress retailer based here, collected more than 160,000 items for foster children last year as part of its award-winning Foster Kids Program.<\/p>\n
And Northwest mattress retailer Sleep Country USA, owned by Sleep Train and based in Seattle, collected more than 101,000 items for foster children last year, more than in any prior year.<\/p>\n
The retailers collected items including clothing, pajamas, shoes, school supplies, and, during the holidays, gifts and toys.<\/p>\n
Sleep Train also raised more than $500,000 last year at its annual Charity Golf Classic. The money helps provide assistance to foster youth aging out of the foster care system to further their education after high school and help them obtain independent living skills support.<\/p>\n
Sleep Country, meanwhile, raised more than $125,000 from its annual Pajama Bowl events to fulfill foster children’s wishes, such as attending summer camps where they are often reunited with their siblings, obtaining tutoring and counseling, playing a musical instrument, or participating in a sport.<\/p>\n
“We’re thrilled to report the tremendous results of our efforts to help the region’s foster children and their families,” said Terry Horsley, vice president of brand strategy for Sleep Train and Sleep Country USA. “We are humbled by the kindness and openhandedness of individuals, families, businesses and organizations … and overjoyed to be able to contribute to our community in a way that will help it grow, thrive and position at-risk children for a successful future.”<\/p>\n
Sleep Train donations in 2011 were distributed to the more than 60,000 foster children in California by the retailer’s 19 foster care partner organizations.<\/p>\n
Sleep Country donations in 2011 were distributed to the nearly 20,000 foster children in the Pacific Northwest by the retailer’s 16 foster care partner organizations.<\/p>\n
Both companies have started 2012 with their annual Pajama Drives for foster children, which run through Feb. 26.<\/p>\n