ANZ Director, Peter West, takes to the streets for charity
21 October 2022
Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
In Australia there are currently over 116,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night. The St Vincent de Paul Society, or ‘Vinnies’ as they are affectionately names, is a charitable support group that raises vital funds, provides advocacy, education, counselling, and housing programs, each designed to tackle the root causes of inequality in Australia.
One project is the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
The CEO Sleepout is a one-night event that enlists business professionals to spend the night sleeping outside on the streets to experience the nightly reality for those people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
Each CEO or business owner that signs up to the event is asked to raise important funds, advocate on the issue and commit to positive change. The funds raised directly assists those at risk by:
- Funding new initiatives
- Ensuring existing homeless services continue (e.g. food vans and emergency support)
- Expanding the reach of existing programs to ensure every Australian can access accommodation, meals and emergency assistance
The event helped to raise over $9.3million which will impact greatly on the charities commitment to positive change.
“The Vinnies CEO Sleepout allowed me to experience the everyday trauma faced by so many Australians. Meeting many incredible people and hearing their stories was overwhelming. Raising funds is vital to support people experiencing homelessness but also raising awareness is another way to overcome the issue and help those at risk. Thank you to all whom donated.”
Peter West, Regional Director for GEFCO in Australia & New Zealand
Link to Vinnies:
https://www.ceosleepout.org.au
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