Marriott Brings Sweet Dreams to Homeless Kids at Mid-Day Pajama Party

JW Marriott Hotel Houston donates initial gift of 9,000-plus bed linens; non-profits to benefit from

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. October 14, 2008

HOUSTON, TX, June 23, 2005. Two dozen pajama-clad young residents of the Star of Hope's Women and Family Emergency Shelter were treated to a mid-day pajama party today - complete with milk, cookies, and a bedtime story - as they became the first recipients of the "Marriott Linen Bank," a linen donation program offered by most of the 48 Houston-area Marriott-branded hotels that will result in the gift of 102,000 items of linen to area non-profit organizations over the next 12 months.

Steven Hall, general manager of the JW Marriott Hotel Houston, the first area Marriott-branded hotel to upgrade its bedding, was joined by 10 area Marriott general managers at the pajama party after unloading a gift of more than 9,000 items - 7,865 sheets, 526 pillowcases, 100 pillows, 150 blankets, 200 bed pads, 200 shower liners and 200 shower curtains - to the Star of Hope Shelter and to the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast's Gifts In Kind Program. The pajama party and linen donation were coordinated by the Houston Marriott Business Council, chaired by Fernando Cuellar, general manager of the Renaissance Houston Hotel Greenway Plaza.

Cuellar announced that, as all other Houston-area Marriott hotels convert their bedding to softer sheets, plusher mattresses, stylish duvets, more pillows and a new fresh look between now and mid-year 2006, the free, gently used linens will be available to additional area non-profit organizations through the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast's Gifts In Kind Program.

"We are delighted to know that the linens we're replacing at our hotels will be put to good use by local non-profit organizations," said Cuellar. "We're also pleased that this program supports the 'reduce, recycle and reuse' philosophy that is part of our company's environmental practices."

"This donation is a much needed and well-timed blessing," said Marilyn Fountain, community relations coordinator, Star of Hope. "Marriott is a wonderful, community minded organization."

Today's gift of linens and the pajama party at the shelter's June Waggoner House of Hope are part of Marriott International's "Marriott Linen Bank" donation program, occurring nationwide as the company upgrades its 628,000 beds at 2,400 hotels around the world. he Marriott Linen Bank program is also part of the company's gobal "Spirit To Serve Our Communities" initiative that includes financial and in-kind contributions, fund-raising and associate volunteerism.