Originating from The Vinnies Sleepout event held in Sydney, Australia in 2006, the inaugural South Africa CEO SleepOut in 2015 saw 247 CEOs and business leaders trade their Porches for the pavement, and spend the night outdoors on Gwen Lane in Sandton. The event raised more than R26m overnight for Girls & Boys Town. In 2015, CEOs from the likes of ABSA, Mutual and Federal, Discovery and many more took part.
This year, the Sun International CEO SleepOut will focus on education and its role in helping to reduce homelessness.
Company CEOs and C-Suite members can register to take part in The CEO SleepOut. This year, as these business leaders spend the night on the street, they will “pay forward” the idea of social entrepreneurship to three future leaders; bringing with them a colleague, a student and a matric learner with notable leadership qualities. Together, they will make up the 4Leaders 4Change.
CEO and C-suite members may also challenge other business leaders to take part, driving a national call to action.
In order to participate in The CEO SleepOut, the business leaders must commit to raising R160,000 for beneficiary partners. The funds will be raised in the spirit of paying it forward:
Step one: the CEO pledges R100,000 to participate in the event, which is paid forward to their designated colleague nominee.
Step two: the designated colleague participant then commits to assist in raising the R50,000 required by the student nominee.
Step three: the student assists the matric learner to raise R10,000.
The total of R160,000 will then be allocated by The CEO SleepOut Trust to the appointed 2016 educational beneficiary partners who work to educate youth as a means to end the cycle of homelessness. The 2016 CEO SleepOut beneficiary partners are The ASHA Trust, Columba Leadership, and The Steve Biko Foundation.
Participating CEOs and C-suite members may also be sponsored to SleepOut as supporters can back their chosen CEO with a financial pledge, which will be added to the CEO’s final pledge tally.
For more info, go to www.theceosleepoutza.co.za.
