The New Jersey Chapter of Pajama Program will host its first annual Pillow Talk Cocktail Party inspired by the famous 1950s movie “Pillow Talk” starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day next Saturday, Sept. 12.
This is the first event for the New Jersey Chapter, which is the largest in the country, to help raise funds to support Pajama Program’s mission of distributing new pajamas and books to vulnerable children – those in foster care, homeless shelters, and domestic abuse shelters.
“The Pajama Program provides a loving environment for children who have lived through a great deal of hurt in their young lives,” said NJ Chapter President Geri Schleich. “It is to the children that are either living in temporary housing as they wait and hope for adoption, or for those living below the poverty level, that these pajamas are delivered with love and affection.”
“There are children who go to bed at night in the same clothing they wore during the day.” – Maria Pignataro
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“What makes the Pajama Program so attractive to me as a volunteer is that the concept is so simple: providing warm pajamas and nurturing books to children in need,” said Maria Pignataro, the Pillow Talk event chair and Hudson County coordinator. “It would never enter most people’s consciousness that there are children who go to bed at night in the same clothing they wore during the day. Seeing their sweet little faces light up when given new PJ’s and a book, is really an amazing thing to see.”
Founded in 2001, the Pajama Program is headquartered in New York City. It has more than 70 chapters nationwide and has provided more than 350,000 pairs of pajamas and books to children throughout the country.
Saturday’s three-hour cocktail party will feature a menu and cocktails inspired by the era, dancing and a silent auction featuring great prizes.
NJ chapter Facts
The New Jersey Chapter of the Pajama Program was founded in 2004, and has grown to be the largest chapter in the nation. Since its inception, the chapter has distributed over 45,000 pairs of pajamas and 26,000 books to children around the state.
In its first year, the NJ Chapter distributed 300 pair of pajamas and 300 books to children around the state. In 2008, over 19,000 pair of pajamas was given out.
The NJ Chapter has volunteers in 21 counties throughout the state, serving over 238 receiving organizations, including DYFS, the Children’s Home Society, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army to name a few.
The event will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday evening, Sept.12 at Cside Restaurant, 34 Exchange Place, in the Harborside Financial Center on the Jersey City waterfront. Advance tickets may be purchased for $100, and will be available at the door for $125.
To purchase tickets, or for more event information, contact Maria Pignataro, Event Chair, at (917)992-4720, or via email at pillowtalk@pajamaprogram.org. Please visit the website, www.pajamaprogram.org/pillowtalk.html to learn more about the Pajama Program.