CEOs from business, community and government will sleep on the streets of Sydney tomorrow night in an effort to raise money for the 116,000 Australians experiencing homelessness.
It’s a record turnout for the 14th annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout, which aims to raise over $7 million nationally for accommodation, counselling, healthcare, food and other homelessness support services.
Last year, a record amount of money was raised – 6.9 million dollars – which was used to help break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Australia. This year, more than 370 CEOs are turning out for the event.
“My participation in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout will help to support the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness. Donations directly assist people experiencing homelessness by funding new initiatives, ensuring the continuation of existing homeless services like food vans and emergency support, and expanding the reach of existing programs for accessible accommodation, meals and emergency assistance,” said Patrick Coghlan, CEO of CreditorWatch, who is participating in the record-breaking charity event.
“I truly believe in this cause. Life can change in an instant for better or worse. When times are tough, nobody should have to wander the streets all night because they have nowhere to sleep. No one should have to sleep in their car or on the pavement. We are all human and everyone deserves the right to basic needs.”
He will be joined in the Sydney CEO Sleepout include government leaders Gareth Ward MP, Jason Clare MP, Niall Blair MLC, and Councillor Linda Scott, as well as several heads of ASX200 companies. They join more than 1,600 CEOs and leaders sleeping out across Australia.
“The CEO Sleepout is about much more than spending a night on a piece of cardboard. What happens over these 16 or so hours has a major impact on the weeks and months to come, by raising the money to keep our services going for those who need them most,” said Vinnies NSW CEO Jack de Groot, who will be participating in the CEO Sleepout.
“It’s so important that those at the top end of town take up the responsibility to advocate for those who haven’t been so lucky, and that’s what the CEO Sleepout is all about.”
By donating to this cause you can help:
- Feed a family for a day
- Help a family stay warm
- Help relocate a person sleeping on the streets to accommodation services
- Provide emergency accommodation
You can find Patrick Coghlan’s donation page here, or find other participating CEOs’ dedicated pages here if you’d like to help raise money for this cause and help reach the target.
