With two weeks to go until the 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout over 800 business leaders have already reached the $1 million mark in fundraising.
The event calls on CEOs to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness while raising funds for Vinnies homeless services and will be held in all capital cities on Thursday 16 June. The CEOs will sleep out in the cold on sheets of cardboard on one of the coldest nights of the year.
This year’s event hopes to raise $4 million.
“This is an extraordinary result,” National CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Dr John Falzon said today.
“What it says is that there is a growing awareness among Australia’s CEOs that homelessness and social inequality are issues that all of us have a responsibility to address.”
In Adelaide, where the event will be held at Adelaide Zoo, almost 80 CEOs have so far raised over $80,000. SA registrations include: Amanda Heyworth (Playford Capital), Tony Braxton-Smith (Great Southern Rail), Brenton Ragless (Channel 9) and Jack Snelling (Treasurer of South Australia).
CEOs who take part in the Sleepout are seeking sponsors from colleagues, friends and family. All money
raised will go towards the Vinnies homeless services across South Australia.
Other participants are also using their contacts to provide generous donations of goods to Vinnies, such as 50 swags for the homeless donated by Peter Basedow from Outdoor Accessories along with participant Phillip Rundle from CB Richard Ellis and Geoff Day from Macquarie Private Wealth.
To register, sponsor a CEO or donate visit www.ceosleepout.org.au
-END-
NT News general manager Grant Galvin will take to the ground of TIO Stadium on June 16, with nothing but two bits of cardboard, mozzie repellant and a sleeping bag.
Qantas NT boss Julian Barry has joined the cause, representing the major national sponsor.
They are among 33 Territory leaders raising funds and a fresh insight for homelessness across Australia. News Limited chief executive John Hartigan also is on board.
Mr Galvin said while the charitable event was for a serious issue, the participants were good-humoured.
“I did the sleepout last year and held my two bits of cardboard together with sticky tape to make my shelter – and Rob Knight, who was then the Housing Minister, tried to steal it,” Mr Galvin said. “He sent his people to get some when I wouldn’t let him have it.
YOUR SAY
“What a waste of time, what a joke, the people who live on the street do it everyday and have a set mind set, these wan ers know they will only have to spend a night, why don’t they try it with no blankets, clothes they have worn for two weeks, a gut full of piss and no food, hypocrits”
Scott
“His fell down.”
The St Vinnie’s food van will deposit fruit, bread and soup to the alcohol-free camp. Mr Barry said the roughest he had slept was on the Kokoda Track. “This is quite different,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to the experience. It’s a chance to see how a side of society that often is forgotten about actually lives.”
Make a donation at www.ceosleepout.org.au
Tags: Australia, CEO, sleepout, SVDP
