Get On Board! Sleep Country USA Drives Fundraising Effort to Provide Area Foster Children with Tools for School

    SEATTLE, WA, July 19, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- According to statistics, with every school change, a foster child loses 4 to 6 months of academic progress. Twice as many kids in foster care in both elementary and secondary school repeat a grade. And, foster children are twice as likely to drop out of high school. These facts demonstrate that foster children are faced with hurdles in school that often become roadblocks to their success. That's why Sleep Country USA, the number one bedding specialist in the Northwest, is asking its community of businesses and individuals to "Get on Board" and help foster children be equipped with the right tools to succeed in school.

Donations of new school supplies like backpacks, calculators, notebooks, rulers, markers, crayons, protractors, and more are being collected during the Sleep Country Foster Kids' Annual School Supply drive to provide these important items to the more than 26,000 foster children in the Northwest. Starting July 19th through September 6th, 2010, school supplies can be donated to any of the more than 70 Sleep Country USA locations throughout Washington and Oregon. Cash donations are also accepted online at www.sleepcountry.com and Sleep Country USA employees will shop on your behalf. All contributions will be given to Sleep Country USA's 15 Pacific Northwest foster care partner organizations and distributed to foster families with school-age children.

"For most, being successful in school is directly tied to being successful in life," said Julie Guay, executive director at Blue Skies for Children. "With your support, we can provide foster children with the school supplies they need to actively participate in class and contribute to their ability to do well in school and ultimately thrive in life."

"Children are an influential group in our communities and their ability to succeed in school and life will shape the future of how we live," said Terry Horsley, vice president of brand strategy for Sleep Country USA. "Making sure these children start school with the same tools as their counterparts gives them a solid foundation for being able to participate in the same way and accomplish the same achievements. It's a small measure that makes an incredibly big difference. We're proud of this ongoing effort to generate thousands of donations for these children."

Sleep Country USA has been incredibly successful in engaging businesses and groups within the community to support area foster children by hosting their own drive and bringing collected items to a local Sleep Country USA store. For more information on how to host your own drive, email [email protected]. And for those looking for other ways to get involved, Sleep Country USA has teamed up with Wild Waves Theme Park in Federal Way to provide half-price admission to the park in exchange for donations of school supplies on August 22nd, from 10am-7pm.

Donations are being accepted today! To find the Sleep Country USA store nearest to you or for more information about the school supply drive, please visit www.sleepcountry.com or call 1-888-88-SLEEP.

About Sleep Country USA
Sleep Country USA is the No. 1 bedding specialist in the Northwest, with more than 70 mattress retail stores throughout Washington and Oregon. Founded in 1991, Sleep Country USA features top-quality, brand-name mattresses from Sealy, Posturepedic, Simmons Beautyrest, Stearns & Foster, and Tempur-Pedic, as well as premium adjustable beds, futons, and wood and metal accent beds. The company emphasizes customer service and satisfaction with its Money Back Comfort Guarantee and Free Red Carpet Delivery Service. Sleep Country USA's award-winning Sleep Country Foster Kids program actively contributes to its communities through ongoing donation drives and fundraising 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, please visit www.sleepcountry.com or call 1-888-88-SLEEP.

Media Contact:
REVOLUTION PR for Sleep Country USA
Jennifer Karkar Ritchie
(206) 932-2454 or [email protected]
and
Aaron Hilst
(206) 355-3506 or [email protected]

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