CEO’s across Sydney urged to sleep rough for charity

CEO’S across Sydney are being urged to ditch the comfort of their own home and spend a night sleeping outside in the cold to help raise money for the homeless.

Bernie Fehon, co-founder of the CEO Sleepout pictured at the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Rozelle. He is urging CEO’s across Sydney to sleep cold for charity. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone.

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CEO’S across Sydney are being urged to ditch the comfort of their own home and spend a night sleeping outside in the cold to help raise money for the homeless.

The annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout was launched today and will take place on Thursday June 20 at the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Rozelle.

The fundraiser will see hundreds of CEOs and business leader’s nationwide sleep rough to raise money for vital homelessness services such as counselling, healthcare, life skills and vocational courses, rehabilitation, crisis accommodation and food items.

The latest census figures (2016) show there are 37,715 people experiencing homelessness in New South Wales.

A group of leading Australian CEO’s who will be participating in the annual Sleepout at Rozelle. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone.

Of those were 2,215 homeless in the inner west.

And the latest City of Sydney street count in August 2018 showed there were 278 people sleeping rough, 495 in crisis or temporary accommodation and 36 in hospital beds across the CBD.

Last year, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout raised over $6.9 million.

This year they are hoping to top that.

Bernard Fehon, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Mountains Economic Enterprise and founder of the Vinnies CEO Sleep out said while the CEO’s participating “wont fully understand what it’s like to be homeless, they do get an insight.”
He said those involved will leave as changed people.

Bernie Fehon said CEO’s who get involved in the annual sleep-out leave as changed people. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone.

“What I know happens and hope happens again this year, is that CEO’s change the way they think when they attend this event, because of the conversations that happen,” he said.

Mr Fehon was working as a financial planner at AMP when he attended a Vinnies fundraising dinner.

He felt it was odd having a beautiful banquet dinner, raising money for people who can’t even afford their next meal.

“I said, wouldn’t it be easier to have a CEO sleep-out rather than a CEO dinner,” he said.

Since the first CEO Sleepout in June 2006, it has grown into a worldwide movement.

“It would be wonderful if we could solve homelessness,” Mr Fehon said.

Bernie Fehon, co founder of the CEO sleep-out. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone,

“I believe that’s physically possible and I implore business leaders, community leaders and government leaders to continue to work on that issue until it is achieved.

“Even if we build buildings to house people, organisations like Vinnies will still have a role to do, to look after and support people.”

Mr Fehon said he is expecting around 300 CEO’s and business leaders join the Sleepout.

“Over the year’s we have had the Commonwealth Bank involved, Carnival Cruises, St George Bank, Coca Cola and former and future Prime Ministers,” he said.

Journalist Joe Hildebrand is looking forward to his first CEO Sleepout. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone.

“I’d certainly hope that our current sitting Prime Minister Scott Morisson will come and join us on the night.”

CEO of Vinnies NSW, Jack de Groot said corporate Australia can really make a positive impact in the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

“Not only can business leaders help to raise money but they can also develop innovative ideas and lend their influence to finding the solutions to ending homelessness,” Mr de Groot said.