Since 2009, classrooms nationwide have collected and donated over 730,000 pajamas to at-risk children through Pajama Program, and Scholastic Book Clubs has matched that number by donating more than one million books. In 2018 alone, Scholastic Book Clubs will donate 100,000 brand-new books to Pajama Program, helping to give children a warmer good night.
This holiday season, Scholastic Book Clubs teamed up with the Pajama Program for something extra special! Together, we hosted 32 first graders from PS 3 in Staten Island, NY for a pajama party brunch that honored the class’s teacher, Rosa Longetti, who has participated in the Scholastic Pajama Drive since the program’s inception 10 years ago, and celebrated the students’ efforts in collecting and donating pajamas.
Decked out in PJ’s and with their pajama donation in tow, the class arrived at Scholastic’s SoHo headquarters excited to find Clifford the Big Red Dog waiting for them with hugs and high fives galore. The students then settled in for a morning filled with brunch, story time, and holiday cheer.
Scholastic Book Clubs’ very own Book Boys led everyone in a very special story time event, and each student received their own copy of Giraffes Can’t Dance by Guy Parker-Rees and Giles Andreae. After listening to the Book Boys read the book aloud, everyone got to watch a special Giraffes Can’t Dance themed Book Boys video.
Genevieve Piturro (Founder, Pajama Program) and Jamie Dyce (Executive Director, Pajama Program) welcomed the class and illustrated just how impactful the students’ charitable efforts truly are.
“Through our partnership with Scholastic Book Clubs over the last 10 years, we’ve been able to make a huge impact together alongside thousands of families, teachers and kids alike,” said Jamie. “For children who may not know what tomorrow will bring, the gifts of new pajamas and storybooks make a difference at bedtime, and let children know that they are seen and valued. Thanks to Scholastic Book Clubs, we’re able to give that feeling to thousands of kids around the country as they go to sleep this holiday season, waking up ready for the day that lies ahead.”
Judy Newman, President and Reader-in-Chief of Scholastic Book Clubs, mirrored that sentiment. “There’s nothing like a great bedtime story, and every child deserves to feel safe and curl up at night with a good book in a cozy pair of pajamas. I’m so proud of the impact the Scholastic Pajama Drive has had on kids across the country, and can’t wait to continue working with Pajama Program to help even more kids go to bed each night with a book they love.”
To cap off the morning of fun, each student got a goody bag and received free books to take with them to add to their home libraries. A morning spent hanging out with Clifford, reading books, and eating yummy brunch food in pajamas, all the while helping other kids around the country? We can’t think of anything better!
To learn more about the Scholastic Pajama Drive, visit http://www.scholastic.com/pajamadrive/.
