Biles to support Mattress Firm Foster Kids initiative and promote sleep health
HOUSTON (Sept. 20, 2016) – Mattress Firm and three-time World Champion Simone Biles announced today a multi-year partnership to create awareness of the retailer’s national Mattress Firm Foster Kids program and help promote the importance of sleep, especially for children. Mattress Firm Foster Kids supports local foster care nonprofit partners in its communities across the country in an effort to help foster kids beat the odds. The retailer hosts six donation drives throughout the year to collect funds and essential items like pajamas, clothing, school supplies, shoes and toys, all of which help make the transition into a new home, a new school or a new community a bit easier for foster youth.
“I am honored to be able to help shine a light on the needs of foster children nationwide and support Mattress Firm’s Foster Kids program,” said Biles. “I know what it is like to spend time in and out of the foster care system, and words cannot begin to express how thankful I am that my parents adopted me. Children are children; they need our love, support and help to understand the benefits of sleep and the role it plays in living an active and healthy life.”
Mattress Firm Foster Kids was created in 2015 in response to requests for support from nonprofit foster care organizations in communities across the country, citing a need for essential items to help foster children and parents adjust to a new home. The initiative makes a positive impact on the lives of the hundreds of thousands of foster youth nationwide. Donations are collected through the Ticket to Dream Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, and after each of the six annual donation drives, proceeds stay in the community where donated and are distributed to carefully chosen nonprofit foster care partners.
Biles, who resides in Houston and is represented by Octagon, will work closely with Mattress Firm to spread awareness of the Foster Kids initiative, including volunteering her time with Mattress Firm and Ticket to Dream’s Houston nonprofit partners, supporting the six annual donation drives, and sharing her personal foster care experience as an advocate of the Mattress Firm Foster Kids program.
“Simone is the perfect fit for Mattress Firm – there is a natural alignment between our Houston roots, a passion for helping foster children and the common belief in the importance of sleep,” said Ken Murphy, president and CEO of Mattress Firm. “Simone represents the American Dream. She is a great inspiration and example to all her fans, and we are excited she has decided to join our team.”
As the country’s largest bedding retailer, Mattress Firm is well-versed in the importance of sleep as a key puzzle piece to a holistically healthy lifestyle. For 30 years, Mattress Firm has been committed to helping improve people’s lives through better sleep, and over the past two years, the company has aimed to elevate the sleep health conversation.
“As a world-class athlete, Simone knows the critical role that sleep plays and how poor sleep can affect her performance,” said Murphy. “Our partnership with Simone will also continue to shine a light on the benefits of a good night’s sleep.”
About Mattress Firm
Founded in 1986, Houston-based Mattress Firm is the nation’s first and only border-to-border, coast-to-coast specialty bedding retailer. With more than 3,500 stores across 49 states, Mattress Firm offers a broad selection of mattresses and bedding accessories from leading manufacturers and brand names, including Serta, Simmons, Dream Bed and Hampton & Rhodes. In 2016, Mattress Firm was acquired by Steinhoff International Holdings. Mattress Firm Foster Kids, a program of the Ticket to Dream Foundation, hosts six collection drives a year in communities nationwide to ensure that foster children have the resources needed to succeed. Learn more at www.MattressFirm.com, www.MattressFirmFosterKids.org, http://www.facebook.com/MattressFirm and www.twitter.com/MattressFirm.
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