As they arrived on a school bus at East 39th Street in Midtown, Manhattan, a group of students from Public School 110 in Corona, Queens were in for quite a morning.
It was a field trip at Pajama Program’s Midtown center to learn about the importance of getting some serious shut eye, part of the organization’s Bedtime Ready for Kids program.
What You Need To Know
- Pajama Program was founded in 2001 by marketing executive Genevieve Piturro
- The nonprofit has delivered nearly 8.5 million pajamas and books to children and families in need
- Pajama Program currently partners with 140 schools across the five boroughs
“They learn about a healthy sleep and bedtime routine, and they take that knowledge home with them and we also get them new pajamas, a new story book and they’ve got the tools for a comforting bedtime routine,” Pajama Program executive director Jamie Dyce said.
Pajama Program is in its 24th year, delivering those warm pajamas and bedtime story books to children in shelters, transitional housing and foster care. In recent years, the organization has added programs aimed at teaching these healthy bedtime routines not only to children but to influential adults in their lives.
“At Pajama Program, our mission is to promote equitable access to healthy sleep, so all children can thrive,” Dyce said.
During visits to the center school, kids get to pick out their own book and dedicated volunteers read to them. On this day, celebrity chef Carla Hall was visiting. She is a Pajama Program board member and says two of her loves are sleep and books.
“You know I realize, one just giving back, but two, I love sleep. Sleep is my most important thing, but before they even really leaned into the sleep, I love books,” Hall said.
Board member Ruchi Pinniger was also there. She is CEO and founder of Watch Her Prosper, which helps women business owners redefine prosperity. She remembered how important it was to read to her own son and make sure he had a good night’s sleep.
“That’s exactly why we do what we do, right, training those children to understand how important it is, and they can even create the habits for themselves at home and with their caregivers,” Pinninger said.
And it’s a good time to help with a donation. A supporter who learned about the program on Spectrum News NY1 has agreed to match every dollar donated over the holiday season up to $5,000.
Find out more here.