CEOs to take to the streets
About 1000 company chief executives have already raised more than $2.2 million as the days count down to the national homelessness fundraising event St Vincent de Paul’s CEO Sleepout.
Scheduled for the evening of Thursday, June 16, the CEO Sleepout, now in its sixth year, aims to raise awareness about homelessness and to raise funds for Vinnies’ services across Australia.
The executives spend spend one night sleeping outside with limited bedding and food to experience homelessness first-hand as best as possible.
"Like the traditional Sherpa who braves the elements, protects where they can, leads from the front, carries packs and guides, I am hoping my small part will enlighten and encourage others to donate and become aware of the difficulties faced by many within our society. By no means do I think it will be easy – scaling Mt Everest might be simpler!" Sherpa Group CEO Vicki Prout says.
"But by joining the cause to raise awareness of homelessness and necessary funds, we can contribute positively to the thousands of people around South Australia [and nationally] who experience disadvantage."
The 253 NSW executives have collected $800,000 in donations from 4900 donors to date. John Hartigan from News Ltd, John Borghetti at Virgin Australia and Ralph Norris from the CBA are among the NSW participants. Graham West, chief executive of St Vincent de Paul NSW and former state government minister, will be NSW’s sleepout host.
In Queensland the executives have raised at least $330,000; in Victoria $308,000; the ACT $260,000; WA $250,000; SA $135,000; Tasmania $110,000; and the Northern Territory $57,000.
Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, who pushed the homelessness issue when he was Prime Minister, is among those intending to sleep rough, but is choosing to do it in Melbourne, as he reckons sleeping out in warm Queensland is “simply too soft''.
Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness Mark Arbib has join the registered CEOs.
"Thanks to organisations such as Vinnies, homeless Australians are provided with temporary accommodation daily, however sleeping rough is the reality for more than 16,000 Australians each night," Arbib says.
"The Gillard Government is committed to working with community organisations, state and territory governments and private industry to break the cycle of homelessness.
"By sleeping out for one night Australia's CEOs are taking a step to improve awareness about this issue and raising money which directly supports Vinnies homelessness services across the country.
"It would be fantastic if the 2011 sleep out surpassed last year's efforts – which attracted almost 700 CEOs and raised $2.9 million."
Arbib says the Australian Government has committed to ambitious goals to halve the rate of homelessness and offer supported accommodation to all those who seek it by 2020.
The 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Launceston and Darwin.
Property industry chiefs who are participating include L Janusz Hooker, the boss of LJ Hooker.
The SleepOut is Thursday night. Donate here.
