Early Childhood Ireland announces almost €350,000 raised on National Pyjama Day 2022

Early Childhood Ireland has today announced that 252 of its member settings in Dublin contributed almost €105,000 to an impressive total of €349,222 raised on National Pyjama Day 2022.

Running for 19 years, National Pyjama Day is the largest one-day fundraising event organised by the Early Years and School Age Care sector in Ireland.

On the special day last November, over 60,000 enthusiastic children and their educators were sponsored to wear their cosy pjs in 1,142 settings all across Ireland.

As well as supporting a new member project to enhance quality for children in Early Years and School Age Care settings, Early Childhood Ireland’s 3,900 members also voted to support AsIAm.

The autism charity underwent an appraisal process conducted by the Community Foundation for Ireland.

Pictured from left:Gillian Mulqueen, Membership Manager, Early Childhood Ireland; Teresa Heeney, CEO, Early Childhood Ireland; Adam Harris, CEO, AsIAm

Commenting on the announcement, Teresa Heeney, CEO, Early Childhood Ireland said: “We are so proud of the positive impact that will happen as a direct result of the funds raised by our fantastic members.

“These donations will make a tangible difference to the lives of children with autism and will also continue to enhance quality for children in the Early Years and School Age Care sector in Ireland.

“On behalf of everyone at Early Childhood Ireland, I would like to thank our members, their educators and the children at their settings together with their families for supporting this important fundraiser year after year. For the first time ever, we also had a donation button for the general public and people have been so giving. Thank you for your generosity.”

The funds raised will benefit two projects:

• AsIAm’s Child and Family Support Programme
• The Reggio Children Project 2023

AsIAm’s Child and Family Support Programme provides group-based support to autistic children and their families, while building the capacity of families to engage with support services and advocate for the critical support they require.

This year’s donation will support 400 children to build meaningful relationships with others in similar situations, participate and thrive in local communities and reduce isolation and anxiety about the future.

Inspired by the commitment to quality for children, which Early Childhood Ireland shares with its members, the funds raised for the Reggio Children Project will deliver three interconnected activities:

1. A Reggio Emilia Study Tour for 24 members of Early Childhood Ireland in April.
2. A week-long event delivered by Reggio Emilia in Ireland in May, with a focus on ‘quality in education’ aimed at Early Childhood Ireland’s members, stakeholders and policy makers, to include setting visits and seminars.
3. A bespoke eLearning toolkit for members of Early Childhood Ireland available from September, inspired by the collaboration between Early Childhood Ireland and Reggio Children.

For more information about National Pyjama Day, please visit: https://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/pyjama-day/