The Pajama Program and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are teaming up this Valentine season for the fourth annual “Open Your Heart” campaign. On Friday, Feb. 11 from 6 - 10 a.m., the San Jose Fairmont will accept drive-by, drop-off donations of new pajamas, nurturing books and cash from guests, employees and community members. Additional participating Fairmont properties in Northern California include the Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco and Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa.
All donations go directly to children in need across Northern California. The Fairmont will be encouraging community participation by hosting drawings for “sleepovers” (one night complimentary stay), Fairmont bathrobes and slippers, and Fairmont teddy bears.
The Pajama Program provides new, warm pajamas and books to children in need, many waiting and hoping to be adopted. Local efforts are led by the Northern and Central California Chapter co-presidents, Pallie Zambrano, an attorney with McManis Faulkner, and April Fuchs-Smith, a paralegal at Bowman & Brooke. The annual “Open Your Heart” drive aims to provide pajamas for the children in need during what is widely considered the “Danger Season” – a particularly cold and lonely period for these children and teens.
“The ‘Open Your Heart’ campaign in partnership with the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts hopes to encourage the donation of thousands of pajamas and books for Northern California’s most vulnerable youngsters living under very difficult circumstances,” says Zambrano. “We appreciate the tremendous support from the community at large in getting the campaign off to good start. In particular, I would like to thank my law firm, McManis Faulkner for their ongoing participation in this very worthwhile program. My fellow co-workers have been extremely supportive and generous with both donations and time”