A PUBLICATION FOR SOCIETY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS AND S TA F F
St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc.
Newsletter 245 May-June 2010
SPECIAL EDITION
Melbourne’s first Vinnies CEO Sleepout held at Etihad Stadium with 116 CEOs participating
Vinnies CEO Sleepout
Melbourne's first Vinnies CEO Sleepout has hit the mark with 116 CEOs from across Victoria and Tasmania sleeping out on Thursday 17 June 2010 at Etihad Stadium. The event has raised over $393,000 in Victoria while across Australia the Vinnies CEO Sleepout has raised $2.8 million to assist homeless services. CEOs embraced the experience of being homeless for a night and rose to the challenge. Melbourne's weather for the evening reached an overnight low of 7.8ÂşC with a cool breeze that circled through Etihad Stadium giving our CEOs a taste of being homeless. Our 116 CEOs rugged up and slept rough armed only with a beanie, sleeping bag, pillow and cardboard to stave off the coldness from Etihad's concrete floor. Thank you to all CEOs for participating in Melbourne's inaugural Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Photographs from the evening can be viewed on the Vinnies CEO Sleepout website. Donations can still be made online at www.ceosleepout.org.au for the next month.
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State President’s Update
On Thursday 17 June 2010 the St Vincent de Paul Society hosted its inaugural Vinnies CEO Sleepout in Victoria and I’m pleased to report, it was a wonderful success. The result for the first year is exceptional with 116 CEOs signed up and more than $393,000 raised. Nationally, 685 CEOs participated and more than $2.8m was raised. This result will help in the struggle against homelessness, though we know a lot more needs to be done. A big thank you to all those who took part and braved the biting wind that ripped through the corridors of Etihad Stadium as well as the hard concrete floor and the loud snoring. Thank you also to all the sponsors for without you it would not have been possible nor as successful. A special thank you to all those who organised the event and were on hand throughout the night, what a great effort. Comments received from many CEOs were that they did not realise the enormity of the problem and that the Sleepout certainly opened their eyes to the issues. Many CEOs also committed to become more involved in raising awareness about the issues of homelessness as well as encouraging their peers, customers and suppliers to take part next year. With every good wish Tony Tome State President
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Sharing the facts Following an introduction by MC John Blackman, the issues of homelessness were discussed in a think-tank session which provided fresh insights into homelessness by asking leaders to address the issue as if it were part of their business portfolio. Jane Nathan, the Victorian Ambassador for CEO Sleepout said that as well as raising awareness and important funds, the event also provided an opportunity to tap into the State’s brightest business minds. Ideas from the think-tank session will be collated and distributed by the Society shortly.
The morning after... Our CEOs woke to a cold sunny morning at Etihad Stadium. They shared a chat over a bowl of porridge and then, many, headed off to shower before going to work.
2010 Top Fundraisers Congratulations and thank you to all our CEOs for rising to the challenge, sleeping out and raising awareness to the issues of homelessness in Victoria. z z z z
Danny Wallis Lachlan Armstrong David Elia Richard Kelleway
$20,950.66 $17,750.99 $16,075.00 $14,266.00