Sleep Train Mattress Centers, part of Sacramento, California-based Sleep Train Inc., which in October was acquired by Houston-based Mattress Firm Inc., raised a record $800,000 for its “Foster Kids” program at an Oct. 1 golf classic.
Donations were earmarked for regional chapters of the national nonprofit Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children, which manages a network of volunteers that represent and advocate for foster children. Nationwide, there are 238,000 foster children represented by an advocate volunteer, but another 400,000 are still waiting, a Sleep Train news release stated.
“We are honored to be able to bring our business community together with our team of employees and volunteers for an event that is fun and raises money for an important cause,” said Dale Carlsen, Sleep Train founder and Mattress Firm president and chief strategy officer. “CASA volunteers are instrumental individuals who play an important and active role in positively influencing the life of a foster child. Today, there are not enough CASAs for every foster child, and with the funds raised at our event, we hope to decrease the number of foster children who have to go it alone without the support of a CASA volunteer.”
The Caddyshack-themed golf classic attracted 500 attendees, including representatives from sleep-products companies Leggett & Platt, Protect-A-Bed, Sealy, Serta, Simmons Beautyrest and Tempur-Pedic.
Sleep Train also held a “Dollar Drive for Foster Kids” that ran through Oct. 19. Proceeds were used to support extracurricular activities for foster children, such as participating on sports teams and attending school field trips.
