Media release Monday April 19 2010 Brisbane joins national Vinnies CEO Sleepout Following the success of last year’s event in Sydney, the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland proudly announces Brisbane will host its own Vinnies CEO Sleepout on June 17 at the Suncorp Piazza, South Bank. The event, launched today as part of the Winter Appeal and being held in each capital city in Australia, aims to raise awareness about homelessness, as well as raise much needed funds to go towards the Society’s range of support services for people facing homelessness. Top CEOs and community leaders will get the chance to experience first-hand what it is like to be homeless: literally bedding down on a sheet of cardboard, with nothing but a mug of soup and a few cups of coffee to sustain them through the night. Peter Maher, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland, says the event captures a real concern in the community about social inequality and provides an avenue for businesses to make a real difference. “The Vinnies motto is ‘a hand up, not just a hand out’,” Mr Maher said. “It means we don’t just want to give people a bed for the night and send them on their way: we are looking towards long term, transitional housing solutions that truly gives people a second chance through providing a place for them to call ‘home’, and the support they need to get their lives back on track.” Mr Maher said that Vinnies is most concerned about children being affected by homelessness, and about the many families that are falling through the cracks. “It is our hope that Queensland’s CEOs and community leaders get behind this event and rise to the challenge of not only helping to break the cycle of homelessness, but importantly help us prevent people from falling into the vicious cycle in the first place. “Queensland has the second highest number of homeless people in Australia at almost 25,000. The need for action has never been greater – in a country such as Australia, no one should be homeless.”
To find out more or to register, visit www.ceosleepout.org.au For all media enquiries, please contact Naomi Lindeberg, State Communications Coordinator: naomi.lindeberg@svdpqld.org.au / 3010 1016 / 0400 118 390.