Are you a leader and daring enough to brave a night on the streets of Sandton on the coldest night of the year with nothing more than a sleeping bag and a cardboard box?
If you are, then you need to join the 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut revolution – an initiative that’s part of a global call to action aimed at putting an end to homelessness, particularly among vulnerable children and the youth.
Founded by Bernard Fehon in Australia a decade ago, the initiative takes a different approach to philanthropy by asking CEOs, board executives, influencers and heads of professional firms to lead by example and spend a night sleeping on the streets of their cities as they raise funds for non-profit organisations that aid homeless people.
Last year the Australian arm of the initiative raised R70 million overnight and local organisers are aiming to raise R25 million for Girls and Boys Town, a childcare non-profit organisation that provides shelter, food, education and health care to orphaned or abandoned children.
“Today the problem of equity and fairness in society is greater than ever and this event stands out as a superb vehicle for business and community leaders to pause and reflect on what they have, experience what it is like to be homeless and act on what they can do to help others who have far less,” says Fehon.
The South African leg of the CEO SleepOut will take place along Gwen Lane in Sandton on 18 June – the coldest and longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere according to meteorologists.
“This event reflects what we try to do on air every day, to put people in someone else’s shoes, to understand their perspective. By placing senior executives in an environment beyond their comfort zone, we are challenging them to explore the reality of homelessness,” says Primedia CEO Terry Volkwyn.
To participate, business leaders need to raise R100 000 in donations from their networks ahead of the challenge.
On they day they will receive a sleeping bag and a cardboard box, a cup of soup and a roll and they will be under security surveillance for the entire 12 hours.
For more information visit theceosleepoutza.co.za
If you are, then you need to join the 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut revolution – an initiative that’s part of a global call to action aimed at putting an end to homelessness, particularly among vulnerable children and the youth.
Founded by Bernard Fehon in Australia a decade ago, the initiative takes a different approach to philanthropy by asking CEOs, board executives, influencers and heads of professional firms to lead by example and spend a night sleeping on the streets of their cities as they raise funds for non-profit organisations that aid homeless people.
Last year the Australian arm of the initiative raised R70 million overnight and local organisers are aiming to raise R25 million for Girls and Boys Town, a childcare non-profit organisation that provides shelter, food, education and health care to orphaned or abandoned children.
“Today the problem of equity and fairness in society is greater than ever and this event stands out as a superb vehicle for business and community leaders to pause and reflect on what they have, experience what it is like to be homeless and act on what they can do to help others who have far less,” says Fehon.
The South African leg of the CEO SleepOut will take place along Gwen Lane in Sandton on 18 June – the coldest and longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere according to meteorologists.
“This event reflects what we try to do on air every day, to put people in someone else’s shoes, to understand their perspective. By placing senior executives in an environment beyond their comfort zone, we are challenging them to explore the reality of homelessness,” says Primedia CEO Terry Volkwyn.
To participate, business leaders need to raise R100 000 in donations from their networks ahead of the challenge.
On they day they will receive a sleeping bag and a cardboard box, a cup of soup and a roll and they will be under security surveillance for the entire 12 hours.
For more information visit theceosleepoutza.co.za
