Some of Australia's top CEOs set to camp out for Vinnies Sleepout

Some of Australia’s top business people will sleep out tomorrow night to raise awareness and funds to combat homelessness at the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

Since the first Vinnies CEO Sleepout in 2006, the event has raised over $13 million in funds for Vinnies Homelessness Services. Fundraisers are encouraged to wear warm clothing, a sleeping bag and pillow. Vinnies will provide cardboard for them to sleep on or to construct a shelter, and a basic meal of soup, bread rolls, tea and coffee.

Some of the highest fund raisers this year include:

• Holly Kramer of Best & Less, who has so far raised $150,093
• George Frazis of St George Banking Group, who has so far raised $98,650
• Dale Alcock of ABN Group, who has so far raised $95,590
• Barry Falstead of Crown Perth, who has so far raised $74,595
• Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Communications, who has so far raised $58,127

Education Minister Christopher Pyne will also be sleeping out tomorrow night, in South Australia. So far, he’s raised $2,631 of his $5,000 donation goal.

Fundraisers in the Australian Capital Territory, who include Defence Housing Australia boss Peter Howman, will be contending with the coldest conditions. The ACT is expecting a low of 2 degrees Celsius for the night.

This year, fundraisers in Sydney will be sleeping at Everleigh Market at Carriageworks. There will also be a Sleepout event in Newcastle and Wollongong.  Last year, $2.1 million was raised by New South Wales fundraisers. Participants in Victoria will be staying at Etihad Stadium.

Western Australian CEOs will be attempting to sleep rough for one night at WACA.

Northern Territory bosses will be staying at the Fannie Point Gaol in Darwin and the OLSH College in Alice Springs. St Vincent de Paul National chief John Falzon, who will be sleeping in Darwin, says that hosting the event at the Fannie Point Gaol will draw attention to structural inequality.

“This venue holds many stories of dispossession and exclusion. Holding the CEO sleepout at the Gaol highlights the tragic link between homelessness and the prison system,” says Falzon.

“People experiencing homelessness and disadvantage are often more likely to end up in prison and people released from prison are more likely to end up homeless.”

Fundraisers from Queensland are set for the Courier Mail Piazza in Brisbane, with South Australian participants at Government House. Tasmanian bosses will be at the Hobart Showgrounds.