Beck PRIDE Center teams with Red Wolves women's basketball team for pajama project

Jan. 22, 2009 -- The Beck PRIDE Center for Wounded Veterans at Arkansas State University is joining forces with ASU’s Red Wolves women’s basketball in a project called “Pajammin’ With the Lady Red Wolves,” which will provide much-needed pajamas to children locally and in Iraq.

Fans are asked to bring a new pair of pajamas to ASU’s basketball game Sunday, Jan. 25, against Florida Atlantic at 12:05 p.m. in the Convocation Center. The collected sets of pajamas will then be divided and some will be shipped for distribution to Iraqi children, while others will be distributed locally to non-profit agencies affiliated with PajamaProgram.org.

Youths under 12 who wear pajamas or bring a new pair for donation are admitted free of charge to the game, while adults who wear them or bring a new pair pay only $5 admission.

“Most families take for granted that they tuck their children warmly into bed in their pajamas each night,” said Jen Vincent of Pajamaprogram.org. “Foster children, kids in children’s homes, disaster situations which are affiliated with non-profit organizations are our target groups.  We are also happy to work with the Beck PRIDE Center for Wounded Veterans and the ASU Women’s Basketball team in sending new pajamas to Iraqi Children.”

Vincent, who said all sizes of pajamas are needed, can be contacted at www.pajamaprogram.org.

Collection boxes will be posted in the Convocation Center and donations will be accepted by Beck PRIDE volunteers that are ASU student-veterans, who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The pajamas will be shipped to Iraq on Feb. 13, 2008. Frank V. Alessi, Master Gunnery Sergeant, US Marine Corps of the 1^st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion currently stationed in North Western Iraq, has agreed to accept the donated items. The USMC unit’s Chaplain will distribute the pajamas to the Iraqi families.

“The Beck PRIDE Center for America’s Injured Veterans located at Arkansas State University, is pleased to partner with the PajamaProgram.org on this project to help needy children in Iraq. This is the second service project our student-veterans have undertaken,” said Beck PRIDE Center program director Susan Tonymon. “Several of the combat veterans who are volunteering, were deployed in this region of Iraq. They agree that there is a real need for these children to have pajamas and that the donations would be greatly appreciated and utilized. Plus, like here it is very cold this time of year in Iraq. In our community, many of us consider pajamas as necessary basic clothing items, but these children don’t have access to sleepwear. We appreciate Jen Vincent with the Pajama Program approaching our center with this opportunity.”  

For details, contact Susan Tonymon, program director, Beck PRIDE Center, (870) 972- 2624, or e-mail stonymon@astate.edu.             

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