14 April 2011

2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout - Canberra

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CEO sleepout

From making decisions to making a difference.

CEOs used to making decisions in the comfort of their boardrooms will soon be sleeping outdoors on a cold Canberra winter’s night to raise awareness of, and funds for, the plight of those living without a roof over their head.

The 2011 Vinnies CEO Sleepout was launched on Wednesday, 13 April, during which several Champions of this year’s event shifted their attention from making decisions for their own companies to providing support for the growing issue of homelessness.

Grace Stephenson, a 23-year-old single mom, spoke of her experience as a homeless person forced to sleep in her car with one of her young sons – in Canberra bush and then near a police station where she felt safer. Grace became a ‘homeless statistic’ when she became the victim of domestic violence. When her partner was arrested and extradited to another state she found herself with huge debt and was evicted for not being able to pay her rent.

Leading supporters who attended the launch, wearing winter beanies and armed with their sleeping bags, included: John Falzon, St. Vincent de Paul Society (National CEO); Andrew Sayers AM, National Museum of Australia; David Pembroke, Contengroup; Mikeal Svensson, Hyatt; Peta Barrett, Raine and Horne Canberra; Sue Hutley, Australian Libraries and Information Association, and Clinton Hutchison, Zoo Advertising. “I had no idea that while I sleep in warmth and comfort every night that families are sleeping out, including with little ones, or that so many people are in such strife,” says Clinton Hutchinson.

Armed only with a cardboard box, a sleeping bag and a mug of warm soup, Canberra’s CEOs will be a world away from their usual comfortable surroundings. Last year Canberra raised more than $354,000. This year, the target is to have 150 CEOs sleeping out to raise $450,000. All money raised will go towards supporting the Vinnies homeless services in the Canberra region.

The event will also challenge perceptions on homelessness. “While spending one night out in the cold can’t give you a full sense of the fear, alienation and desperation felt by those who have nowhere to call home, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout give participants insight into the hardships faced by the country’s homeless,” said National CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Dr John Falzon.

Visit: www.ceosleepout.org.au to register or to donate!

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Jivrashia said :

Did any of the CEO show up with either a Blackberry, iPad, tablet, or even an eBook reader?

Just asking…

This is actually not allowed. They are given a list of what they can and can’t bring.

Hope the CEO’s are faring well tonight. It is pretty cold.

Kevin Rudd is also participating in Melbourne.

ThatUniStudent said :

WTF is a mom? I thought that was the local Aboriginal word for ass. As in “go sit on you mom.” I am disgusted that American English is sneaking into Australian society.

Oh, the irony. You ass.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

Mom? Oh, dear god make it stop.

On Today Tonight last week they used the term ‘soda pop’.

Homeless people tend to leave Canberra in winter and head north to warmer climes …

wildturkeycanoe9:52 am 16 Apr 11

I do this several times a year on rough ground rather than under a building facade [which will provide warmth after a sunny day]. Instead of someone giving me mug of soup I make a fire and boil my own water. In the past my sleeping bag has been replaced in necessity by an aluminium foil “emergency blanket”, on another occasion the floor mats from my 180B Datsun, and once it was just my motorcycle leathers under a blue tarp [it was that cold the drinking water inside my mates car froze solid by sunrise]. I do this for recreation [camping], they do it once a year [with some luxuries – note electronic device in 1st and 2nd person’s hands in photo].
My point is that these folks only have to put up with one night of discomfort during which they don’t have to worry about where they will get food from tomorrow, where they can go to the toilet [so few public toilets around and fewer businesses who’ll let you in to use theirs. Incidentally, where do they go – these white collar workers come paupers?], how they can get out of their situation – whatever it may be and many, many more problematic issues that dictate your daily lifestyle.
I sincerely hope the money raised does go to those who need it, unfortunately my guess is the people doing the charity “hard yards” are also the ones appropriating the funds.
Note – yes I’m being a bit hard on them, it’s that time of the month…?

Did any of the CEO show up with either a Blackberry, iPad, tablet, or even an eBook reader?

Just asking…

georgesgenitals5:52 pm 15 Apr 11

LSWCHP said :

One part of me says good on them for doing something, and raising some money to help people in distress.

Another part of me feels vaguely queasy at all the PR, bloviation and mutual congratulation going on because some of the most affluent people in our society chose to “suffer” for one night before returning to their comfortable toasty houses for the other 364 days of the year. Somehow it all seems a bit wanky.

I’d have thought that several hundred thousand dollars would go to goood use in directly helping people.

colourful sydney racing identity2:50 pm 15 Apr 11

Mom? Oh, dear god make it stop.

ThatUniStudent2:04 pm 15 Apr 11

WTF is a mom? I thought that was the local Aboriginal word for ass. As in “go sit on you mom.” I am disgusted that American English is sneaking into Australian society.

Stanhope and Hargreaves should have had a night there, maybe they might get an idea how it feels, but of course that would be only one night for them

One part of me says good on them for doing something, and raising some money to help people in distress.

Another part of me feels vaguely queasy at all the PR, bloviation and mutual congratulation going on because some of the most affluent people in our society chose to “suffer” for one night before returning to their comfortable toasty houses for the other 364 days of the year. Somehow it all seems a bit wanky.

Great cause and well done to the actual CEO’s doing it ….! for the others well done on spinning positive Pr for your boss’s or partners business

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