Jean Arnold: Sleeps for Girl Power

Jean Arnold wears a lot of hats: winery president, business owner,  lecturer and in her spare time, she is writing on a book about luxury brand imaging and two children’s books.

But once a year Arnold swaps her business suit for casual pajamas and lets her hair down for a good cause. This year "Jean’s Pajama Party," a fundraiser which asks its guests to dress for a sleepover to benefit several good causes - this year, the state’s “Every Woman Counts” mammography program at Sonoma Valley Hospital - kicks off May 4 at El Dorado Kitchen.

 I met up with the dynamic Jean Arnold Sessions at Hanzell Vineyards (where she is president) to learn more about the infamous Pajama Parties and how the charity event is changing the lives of Sonoma women.

Sonoma Patch: How long have you been in Sonoma?

Jean Arnold: I moved here in 2003, but I’ve been in Sonoma County since 1986. I love the town of Sonoma.

 SP: What is it about Sonoma that you love?

JA: We’re a community of people who care and give generously. And we have such a diversity of food and wine, yet we’re casual about it.  As my stepson says, “Provence is the Sonoma of France.”

SP: I’ve been hearing about your Pajama Parties for some time. How did they start? 

JA: In 2002, a year after I’d been diagnosed with breast cancer and had gone through chemotherapy and radiation, a girlfriend of mine decided to walk for me in the Human Race and give the money she raised to breast cancer research. So I hosted a luncheon for everyone who contributed. And that’s how it started. Without the pajamas, of course.

SP: When did the party turn into a pajama party?

 JA:  In the third year we decided to do a Friday night dinner instead of a luncheon. The idea was for us to have dinner, and afterward everyone would change into pajamas and stay.

 SP: I remember pajama parties. Of course, we were in private homes. . .not out in public.

JA: There’s something amazing about getting that many women together in their pajamas in public. The only potentially awkward moment is getting out of the car and walking into the restaurant.

SP: So what actually goes on during the party at the restaurant?

JA:  We start with dessert. There’s plenty of sparkling wine, a signature cocktail, plenty of water and food. We have a psychic, a photo booth and fake tattoos.

 SP: Tattoos?

JA: The tattoos are a big hit. But the first time we did them we didn’t realize they don’t come off for seven days. People went back to New York, Chicago, and banks in Santa Rosa sporting Pajama Party tattoos.

SP: Is the event strictly for women?

JA:  Yes, but we have about 10 male servers.  We say, “We respect you, but tonight you’re eye candy.” They are mostly prominent citizens from Sonoma Valley.

SP: They must have a ball.

JA: They do. And now there’s a man party. My husband and son and a board member host a dinner at Meritage and most of the proceeds go to the Pajama Party. Then they come over for the live auction and do a “panty raid”-- no actual panties involved.

SP: There’s something special about women coming together in support of other women.

JA: I’ve always had the theory that women communicate differently when they’re with women. Not good, not bad, just different.

 SP: How is the charity structured?

 JA: In 2007 we created our own foundation, the Jean Arnold Group Foundation, to support women’s health.

SP: How do you decide what to fund?

JA: It’s about women in pain- we ask ourselves who needs immediate help. In 2008, we funderd “Every Woman Counts,” a digital mammography program for women who don’t have insurance to cover it. And in the last two years we’ve provided funds to the Sonoma Valley Police Department’s YWCA battered women program. Most people don’t know that we have about 500 cases coming through Sonoma Valley every year.

SP: I understand you encourage pajamas but not lingerie?

JA: The first time I posted on my website, “pajamas NOT lingerie”, I got 36 responses. Thirty-five of them were Viagra ads.

SP: That’s pretty funny.

JA: It’s fun to let your hair down. It’s a pajama party-- it’s about comfort and connection. And honoring those we have lost.

SP: It seems bittersweet.

JA: It’s really magical. A woman, a cancer survivor, used to come as the Good Witch Glenda. She would grant wishes. One by one each woman approached “Glenda” and made a wish. She turned around three times, waved her fairy wand and tossed fairy dust. There are great stories about how many of those wishes came true. Sadly, Glenda is one who isn’t with us anymore.

SP: It sounds like her legacy lives on through the Pajama Party connection.

 JA: Yes, it’s all about connecting.  We’re all survivors of something.

Tickets are $85. There will be both a silent auction and live auction. Those not attending can honor wives, sisters and mothers by donating online at www.japjparty.org .