CEOs sleep out for the homeless

Five Greek – Australian CEOs swapped their king sized beds for cardboard cribs to raise more than $25,000 collectively for the annual Vinnies CEO Sleep-out.
The Coffee Club director John Lazarou, Neami Limited’s Arthur Papakotsias, and Residential Development Council’s Caryn Kakas spent a chilly Thursday night sleeping outside at Etihad Stadium.
Emmanuel Drivas and Emmanuel Kokoris, also from The Coffee Club completed the sleep-out in Sydney and Brisbane.
The Australia wide event aimed to challenge business and community leaders to experience homelessness first-hand for one night to gain insight and change social opinions on this serious issue.
“It gave me a sense of what it feels like to be extremely uncomfortable because it was very cold, and I’m not from Melbourne so I felt very much isolated and alone to begin with,” said Mr. Lazarou.
“But it was a bit different because the next day I knew I was going home to my bed, whereas these homeless people don’t know where they are from one day to the next.
“I feel I did my bit, not only in the fundraising but to generate the awareness that’s needed to ensure that homelessness will be a thing of the past by 2020.”
According to recent figures, over 100,000 Australians are homeless and over 34,000 of these are children. So far John Lazarou has raised $5985; Arthur Papakotsias, $2895; Caryn Kakas, $6775; Emmanuel Drivas-nearly $9000; and Emmanuel Kokoris, nearly $3000.
CEOs across Melbourne have raised $350,000 whilst nationally the figure is at $2.6 million and rising.
Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul Society) Victorian president, Tony Tome said that the initiative will raise much needed funds for those in need.
“The emerging face of homelessness is families… and fifty-four percent of Australian homeless people in need of supported accommodation are turned away,” he said.
Vinnies operates numerous homeless services including soup vans, hostels for men, family services and refuges for people escaping domestic violence.
You can donate to the Vinnies CEO Sleep-out by visiting www.ceosleepout.org.au
(source: neos kosmos)