Gymnast Simone Biles Teams Up With Mattress Firm For Philanthropic Efforts

HOUSTON, TX -- Mattress Firm has signed a multi-year partnership with three-time World Champion gymnast Simone Biles, officials announced this week.

The athlete was prompted to join forces with the chain of mattress stores to help increase awareness of the retailer's national Mattress Firm Foster Kids program while promoting the importance of sleep, especially among children.

With its foster kids program, Mattress Firm supports local foster care nonprofit partners in communities nationwide designed to help foster children beat the odds.

"The retailer hosts six donation drives throughout the year to collect funds and essential items like pajamas, clothing, school supplies, shoes and toys, all of which help make the transition into a new home, a new school or a new community a bit easier for foster youth," officials wrote in a press release.

For her part, Biles said the idea of participating in the program resonated with her personally. During the summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Biles's personal narrative of overcoming odds in her early youth resonated with a wide audience while serving as inspiration given her singular success at the competition.

“I am honored to be able to help shine a light on the needs of foster children nationwide and support Mattress Firm’s Foster Kids program,” Biles said in a prepared statement. “I know what it is like to spend time in and out of the foster care system, and words cannot begin to express how thankful I am that my parents adopted me. Children are children; they need our love, support and help to understand the benefits of sleep and the role it plays in living an active and healthy life.”

Mattress Firm Foster Kids was created in 2015 in response to requests for support from nonprofit foster care organizations in communities across the country, citing a need for essential items to help foster children and parents adjust to a new home, company officials said.

"The initiative makes a positive impact on the lives of the hundreds of thousands of foster youth nationwide," officials added. "Donations are collected through the Ticket to Dream Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, and after each of the six annual donation drives, proceeds stay in the community where donated and are distributed to carefully chosen nonprofit foster care partners."

A Houston resident, Biles will work closely with Mattress Firm to spread awareness of the Foster Kids initiative, including volunteering her time with Mattress Firm and Ticket to Dream’s Houston nonprofit partners, supporting the six annual donation drives, and sharing her personal foster care experience as an advocate of the Mattress Firm Foster Kids program, company officials said.

“Simone is the perfect fit for Mattress Firm – there is a natural alignment between our Houston roots, a passion for helping foster children and the common belief in the importance of sleep,” said Ken Murphy, president and CEO of Mattress Firm, in a prepared statement. “Simone represents the American Dream. She is a great inspiration and example to all her fans, and we are excited she has decided to join our team.”

Given her world-class gymnast status, Biles is fully aware of the importance sleep platys into athletic performance, Murphy added: “As a world-class athlete, Simone knows the critical role that sleep plays and how poor sleep can affect her performance,” said Murphy. “Our partnership with Simone will also continue to shine a light on the benefits of a good night’s sleep.”

Mattress Firm boasts the "largest geographic footprint" in the United States among multi-brand mattress retailers, with more than 3,500 company-operated and franchised stores across 49 states. Founded in 1986, Houston-based Mattress Firm is the nation’s leading bedding retailer, officials said.

>>> Photo courtesy of Olympic Committee, used with permission