Wearing Pajamas For A Good Cause: 3rd Annual PJ Day Comes To Greenwich

Update: According to Greenwich Public Schools Spokesperson Jonathan Supranowitz, over $22,500 was raised for this year's PJ Day. The fundraising page is still open.

GREENWICH, CT — Students around Greenwich on Friday will ditch their usual school wardrobes to raise money for a good cause.

Greenwich Public Schools' (GPS) third annual PJ Day to raise money and create awareness for children battling cancer at Connecticut Children’s Hospital is set for Feb. 9.

Each school in the district, plus the private school Greenwich Academy, is participating this year. Students can choose to come to school dressed in their pajamas and make a physical $1 donation, or more, throughout the day.

There is also an online fundraiser where residents can donate to the district-wide cause or individual schools in Greenwich.

PJ Day is meant to show solidarity with young cancer patients, who often are in their pajamas every day fighting through cancer treatment.

The fundraiser was brought to the district by Greenwich High School senior Sophie Lenschow, a childhood cancer survivor.

Lenschow had the idea to bring the initiative to town after speaking to officials who coordinate the day around the state.

Greenwich was one of the few districts that hadn't participated yet, Lenschow said. The official state-recognized PJ Day is the second Friday in December, but districts can schedule any date from September through June that works best.

Superintendent of GPS Dr. Toni Jones lauded Lenschow for spearheading and coordinating efforts for PJ Day.

"Sophie is an amazing, selfless young woman who has inspired so many of her peers. Almost single-handedly, Sophie created and coordinated a day in the district for our students to voluntarily wear their pajamas to school on Friday," Jones said. "She is just one of many Greenwich Public Schools students that are productive, responsible, and compassionate members of our community."

For Lenschow, the initiative is critical, not only to advance cancer research and treatments but to buoy the spirits of young cancer patients.

"It's just an important initiative and it's so impactful to help kids who are suffering with cancer. I brought it to Greenwich, and it's been a very big success each year which I'm super happy about," Lenschow told Patch. "All the kids in the schools wear their PJs to show solidarity for the kids in the hospital who have to wear their PJs every day who are getting treatment and chemotherapy for their illness."

Around $14,000 was raised in Greenwich in 2022 for PJ Day, and over $19,000 went toward Connecticut Children's Hospital and the Connecticut Children's Foundation in 2023.

To date, according to the online fundraiser, nearly $9,000 has been raised so far, and more money is expected to come in on Friday.

The Connecticut Children's Foundation website notes that since 2011, more than $2.7 million has been raised in support of Connecticut Children's Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders

It's "absolutely incredible" to see the increased participation and generosity each year, especially at GHS among Lenschow's peers, Lenschow said.

"It's really amazing. Some of our other events at school, they're not as widely participated, but PJ Day has always been a very big success at Greenwich High School where the majority of kids wear their PJs," Lenschow said. "It's just really nice to see that kids support other kids who are going through something really tough and they take the time to say, 'I see you, I support you and we're here for you.'"

Even though Lenschow will graduate in June, she has plans to hand over the reins to her younger sister who will carry on the tradition of PJ Day in Greenwich schools.

For more information, students and families can contact their school’s principal or head to this year's fundraising website to get involved.