Will 2016 CEO Sleepout break 2015 records?
2015 saw a highly successful CEO SleepOut, with a record-breaking R26 054 869 raised. Will 2016 beat the existing record?
As various business leaders prepare for the 2016 CEO SleepOut, the massive success of inaugural 2015 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut, cannot be forgotten.
Ali Gregg, founder of The Philanthropic, which brought the CEO SleepOut concept and brand from Australia, confirmed last year that the monies raised were held by Girls and Boys Town.
She said: “Everyone involved is thrilled to see an organisation like Girls and Boys Town receiving a donation of this size, knowing that Girls and Boys Town offers long-term, sustainable solutions and care to homeless and vulnerable children.”
CEO of Girls and Boys Town, Lee Loyne said at the time: “This is a moment in our history that we will never forget because through the event our children, those cared for by other similar organisations and those living on the streets, young and old, have become visible.”
The event saw 247 CEOs from all over South Africa participating by sleeping on the streets of Sandton on a night that reached lows of -3 degrees Celsius. They each donated R100 000 in order to participate while raising funds throughout the night, with Brett Levy, Joint-CEO of Blue Label Telecoms, contributing the highest donation of R540 000.
https://twitter.com/SleepOutZA/status/729590349111373824
This year’s CEO SleepOut has some big shoes to fill. Graeme Stephens, CEO of headline partner Sun International, who shared insight into the inaugural event and the impact it had, said: “It was a privilege to be a part of the inaugural CEO SleepOut, which went on to be the single largest fundraising event South Africa has hosted.”
The 2016 event theme is education as the key to alleviate poverty.
This year’s CEO SleepOut will take place on 28 July at the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein and will, once again, see various business leaders spend a night out on the street to raise funds for the beneficiaries with a big focus on education.
Check out scenes from last year’s SleepOut:
Find out more information on this year’s CEO SleepOut on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
