Press release May 18 2010
Sydney CEOs pass the $100,000 mark The number of CEOs registered to take part in the Vinnies 2010 CEO Sleepout event in Sydney on June 17 has exceeded 100, with more than $100,000 already raised. “This is the first year the event has gone national, and the response is wonderful,” the Acting CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Peter Miller, said today. “In total around Australia almost 300 CEOs have registered to sleep out in seven capital cities, with more than a quarter of a million dollars raised. The event is clearly touching a chord with business leaders across the country who want to assist the homeless. ” Mr Miller said the fact registrations were already high meant the event was likely to again exceed expectations. Last year in Sydney alone, 213 CEOs raised more than $620,000 for Vinnies’ homeless services. “What we are seeing is that not only are business leaders prepared to raise much needed funds, they are also prepared to donate their time – which to many is even more precious,” he said. “It would be easy for them to say ‘too busy, too hard’. Instead they will give over one night in the middle of winter, to sleep out in the cold, in order to better understand the plight of the more than 105,000 Australians who have no home.” Those who have already registered include: • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Senior VP DHL Express, Gary Edstein MD and CEO Arab Bank, James Wakim VP Hilton Worldwide, Ashley Spencer CEO Mosaic Oil NL, Alex Parks MD Merck Sharp & Dohme, Jane Orr CEO Fairfax, Brian McCarthy CEO Thrifty Car Rental, Bryn McGoldrick CEO NRMA, Tony Stuart CEO Chris O’Brien Life House at RPA, Timothy Dugan CEO Pfizer, John Latham CEO Kell & Rigby, James Kell COO InterContinental Hotels Group, Bruce McKenzie Chief Nudie, Nudie Foods Australia Pty Ltd James Ajaka MD/CEO McDonalds Australia, Catriona Noble
To see the full list of participating CEOs, to register, or to sponsor a CEO log on to www.ceosleepout.org.au For more information or to arrange an interview, contact: Marion Frith, Communications Manager, St Vincent de Paul Society on 0417 446 430