Jewel aids Sleep Better. Dream Bigger project

Singer-songwriter Jewel, known by millions for bittersweet, savvy songs about life and love and more recently for a newly released collection of lullabies that she said used to help her to sleep during difficult periods in her life, is lending her voice to an unusual initiative to encourage Americans to hold on to their dreams, especially during tough economic times.

Sponsored by www.sleepbetter.org, an online resource for health information and sleep advice, the “Sleep Better. Dream Bigger” project will employ a range of consumer education initiatives, media appearances, in-the-field blogging, events, advertising, philanthropy and specially commissioned research that will raise awareness about the importance of a good night’s sleep.

The Sleep Better. Dream Bigger project will also take over a town.

From July 15 to August 15, the citizens of Stephenville, Texas will be sharing their dreams with the rest of the country and learning strategies to make those dreams a reality. Journalist and novelist Dan Gearino will be blogging about the town’s experiences throughout the summer on the consumer education web site www.sleepbetter.org .

Jewel was approached by Dan Schecter, vice president of consumer products with Carpenter Co. and creator of www.sleepbetter.org, to lend her voice to the project. “We are looking forward to this partnership,” he said.

“Quality sleep is vital in order to be the kind of person you want to be and to reach the goals and dreams you have for yourself,” said Mr. Schecter. “We draw a straight line between sleeping well and dreaming big. After all, if you can’t sleep, you can’t dream.”

“Jewel will help us get that message across,” he said. “Her life and her career is about going after a dream. She’s an encouragement for others to achieve her dreams.”

“I know that times are tough, and it’s easy to lose sight of your dreams” said Jewel. “I hope that through this project, I will be able to encourage people to keep reaching for their dreams. And I look forward to America getting to know more about Carpenter Co., Sleep Better and my wonderful neighbors in Stephenville, who are big dreamers themselves.”

While much of the campaign’s spotlight will be on Jewel, who will be appearing on television programs throughout the country, the focus also will be on her hometown of Stephenville, Texas. Located 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth, the nearly 17,000-resident community will serve as home base for the project.

Journalist and novelist Dan Gearino will take up residence in the 1898 Oxford House, where he will write regular blogs about local citizens’ hopes and dreams. The 111-year-old home will serve as the headquarters for the “Sleep Better. Dream Bigger” initiative where a showroom of innovative sleep products will be on display and where townspeople can receive their “ZzzzScore™,” which gives them individualized advice to sleep better and ways to improve their sleep environment.

In addition to Mr. Gearino’s blog entries – available on www.sleepbetter.org – additional insight into the town’s dreams and aspirations will be derived from an exclusive survey. Conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, the telephone poll is designed to provide a localized perspective on a national survey released in June on Americans’ attitudes toward sleep and dreams. The national survey found a strong undercurrent of optimism in the country, despite the current economic climate.

The “Sleep Better. Dream Bigger” project will kick off on July 15 and conclude a month later with a special picnic performance in Stephenville hosted by Jewel.

“Our thanks go out to the good people of Stephenville, who are allowing us to get to know them and their dreams large and small,” said Mr. Schecter. “America is a nation of big dreamers, and the genesis of those dreams is often in the small towns and cities that dot our nation’s landscape. We look forward to getting to know the residents of Stephenville and to sharing with them our own expertise on ways to improve their sleep.”