Sleep is seen not just for rest, but as a real superpower that fuels learning, well-being, confidence, and connection. That is the core behind Beyond Bedtime, a non-profit that regularly partners with us at Children Incorporated. Children living in poverty and unsettled housing situations many times forgo sleep for safety. This affects their education, development, and overall well-being. On top of working to make sure they have basic needs, Children Incorporated strives to make sure more than just the basics can be provided. We do that with the help of dedicated partners, like Beyond Bedtime. Together we can make the world better for the children living in it.
How they Began
Beyond Bedtime, originally called The Pajama Program, was founded in 2001, and began with a simple but profound idea: every child deserves comfort and care at bedtime. What started as a simple act of collecting pajamas from friends and family grew into a national organization focused on sleep health, emotional well‑being, and healthy nighttime routines.
Today, Beyond Bedtime works with schools, shelters, foster care agencies, and nonprofit partners across the country to ensure children not only receive pajamas and books, but also the support and education needed to build positive bedtime habits that contribute to long‑term success.— They are not just giving pajamas, but helping children, caregivers, and educators learn about healthy bedtime routines and sleep habits.
In 2025, the organization officially rebranded as Beyond Bedtime to better capture its broader mission: combining bedtime essentials and tools for nurturing healthy sleep for long-term well-being.
Why Pajamas Matter
Something as simple as a new pair of pajamas can make a meaningful difference. For children experiencing hardship, pajamas can:
- Create a sense of normalcy and routine
- Support better sleep and focus in school
- Help children feel valued and cared for
- Ease stress for families already facing difficult circumstances
When children sleep better, they are better equipped to learn, grow, and thrive.
A History of Working Together
Children Incorporated has been grateful to collaborate with Beyond Bedtime over the years. In 2008 the Pajama Program reached out to our the CEO Ron Carter to see how their program could help children enrolled in our program. At that time, donations were coming directly from the Pajama Program, but as they grew they began partnering with other groups to meet the ever growing need. For the last 17 years we have received donations not just from them, but from local churches, run clubs, PTA drives, and many other sources, all because of this amazing partnership. These donations are still helping families meet basic needs while reinforcing the importance of consistency, comfort, and care at home.
While Children Incorporated focuses on providing children with resources such as food, clothing, shelter, and education, Beyond Bedtime strengthens that foundation by supporting rest and routine—key elements of a child’s physical, emotional, and academic well‑being. And the past several years have been a wonderful testament to their mission. Working to ensure our sponsored children had opportunities this year they partnered us with a local church who in turn abundantly provided for local Richmond children. In the past week we were able to deliver over 300 pairs of pajamas to location children, some of which do not currently have sponsors and would not have received any assistance otherwise.
Looking Ahead
This recent pajama delivery is a reminder of what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared purpose. We are thankful for Beyond Bedtime’s continued generosity and commitment to children in need, and we are proud of the impact our collaboration has made—and will continue to make—in the lives of the children we serve.
Together, we’re helping children rest easier tonight so they can dream bigger tomorrow.
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These stories reveal just a glimpse of your support’s impact. Will you help us write the next story?
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- Click Here to go online to visit our sponsorship portal and search for a child that is available for sponsorship
- call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with a real person in our sponsorship department
- email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org