Hearts warmed as CEOs brave cold to help homeless
Simon Dawkins, “roughed it” for the night along with 100 other West Australian business leaders, to get a taste for what it is like for the 100, 000 plus Australian’s who are affected by homelessness in their lifetime.
Western Australia (June, 18, 2010): On the night of Thursday 17th June, Simon Dawkins, of The CEO Institute, participated in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, along with 680 other CEOs and senior managers across Australia, and close to 100 in Western Australia.
The Perth event, held at the WACA, was designed to raise money for the St Vincent de Paul Society who provide support to those who are homeless across Australia, as well as raise awareness amongst Perth business leaders of what it is like for the almost 14 000 people who are living homeless in WA.
The participants were given cardboard to sleep on, or to use to make shelters, and told to bring a sleeping bag to fend off the cold weather. A humble dinner of soup and a bread roll was served for dinner, and as the temperature dropped to around 10 degrees CEOs found themselves a place for the night inside the WACA grounds.
When asked, “Why CEOs?” during an interview with ABC Radio, Lucy Ardagh from the St Vincent de Paul Society commented that CEOs “Have a lot of opportunity to make change in the community. They are the top end of town that can influence change.”
The CEO Institute was a major supporter of the WA event. Says Simon of the experience, “It’s too often we think that solving problems like homelessness is simply a Government policy issue. It is occasions like this that make us question, what else can we do?”
At 11am on Friday, 18th June, Perth CEOs had collectively raised $440 757. According to the CEO Sleepout website www.ceosleepout.org.au around $500 is enough to provide emergency accommodation and food to a family in crisis, as well as help to ensure a family can keep its power on this winter.
But as Simon says “It’s not too late to donate.” Donations are still being accepted via the CEO Sleepout website for the next two weeks.
About The CEO Institute:
The CEO Institute was founded in 1992 as a peer-to-peer membership organisation for Chief Executives. With more than 800 members nationwide, its members meet regularly in small groups to share ideas, experiences and challenges and to be exposed to leading edge business thinking. Access to the diverse perspectives of their peers enhances members' knowledge and expertise enabling them to lead their organisations more effectively. It is Australia’s leading network of business leaders.
Media Contact:
Rebecca Cole, Executive Manager, WA
P (08) 9368 1687 | M 0432 699 678 | E rebeccac@ceo.com.au