Sealy Helps Victory Junction Gang Camp Ready for Green Flag with Major Mattress Donation

Furniture World Magazine

Sealy, the largest bedding manufacturer in the world, announced that it will donate 350 mattresses to the new Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, North Carolina, a free year-round camp for children with life-threatening illnesses slated to open in summer 2004. The beds will be used in camper cabins, medical, staff and program housing, and "The Body Shop," a fully staffed medical center. Victory Junction Gang Camp, a proud charity of NASCAR, is being built by NASCAR driver Kyle Petty and his wife, Pattie, in honor of their son, Adam, who died in a racing accident in 2000. The camp is located only a few miles from Sealy's corporate headquarters in Trinity, North Carolina. "We are thrilled to be on board with the Victory Junction Gang Camp, and because the camp is in our own backyard, Sealy's involvement will go well beyond our mattress donation. For example, Sealy employees will have the opportunity to volunteer in the camp's programs year-round," said Dave McIlquham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sealy, Inc. "We look forward to a long partnership with Victory Junction and hope that our donation will enhance the overall experience for the courageous children, their families, and the staff and volunteers by providing a comfortable night of sleep after long, exciting days of fun activities." The children and their families that attend Victory Junction will do so at no cost, as the camp will be fully funded by donations from corporations, individuals and foundations. During the off-season, Victory Junction will be open for corporate events, weekend retreats, specialized programs for smaller disease groups, and camper reunions. "We are extremely grateful to Sealy for stepping in with their generous bed donation," said Kyle Petty. "We want the kids that come to Victory Junction to have the best possible experience we can give them, and at the very least we know all of our guests will be comfortable at the end of the day." Victory Junction Gang Camp: Founded by Kyle and Pattie Petty in honor of their son Adam, Victory Junction will be a year-round, multi-disease camp serving children from the Carolinas and Virginia. The camp will provide sessions to children ages seven to fifteen with life-threatening illnesses. The Victory Junction Gang Camp will have a racing theme that allows campers to begin their experience by entering the camp through a tunnel and crossing a starting line into the world of racing. When complete, Victory Junction's 75-acre site will have more than 36 buildings, including a dining hall, gym, pool, theater, therapeutic equestrian center, arts and crafts center, race shop, and 16 camper cabins. The Victory Junction Gang Camp, a Proud Charity of NASCAR, is scheduled to open June of 2004 and will be free to children and their families. For more information, visit www.victoryjunction.org. Sealy, Inc.: Sealy is the largest bedding manufacturer in the world. In the U.S., Sealy serves more than 7,000 retail outlets in all 50 states. Including its subsidiaries, Sealy has 31 manufacturing plants in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. There are a total of 11 international licensees operating in Australia, Israel, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, South Africa, the Bahamas and the United Kingdom. In addition to its licensees, Sealy has a joint venture in Southeast Asia, India and Korea. Sealy produces and sells a full range of mattresses under the Sealy, Sealy Posturepedic®, Stearns & Foster and Bassett brand names. Sealy-branded licensed products include: office seating, crib mattresses, sheets, pillows, mattress pads, comforters, sofa sleepers, and futons. More information on Sealy, Inc. can be accessed at www.sealy.com.