Eveleigh Market and Carriagworks hosted the 2012 Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout
Over 270 of Sydney’s business leaders slept out in the cold at Eveleigh Market and around the site for the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout on Thursday 21 July 2012.

The Australia-wide event calls on CEOs to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness while raising funds for Vinnies by sleeping outside on sheets of cardboard during the longest night of the year.

There are more than 100,000 Australians who sleep rough each night of the year. Just under half of these are women; a quarter are under the age of 18. 

Sydney registrations include: Gail Kelly, Westpac Banking Corporation; Ian Narev, Commonwealth Bank; Ann Sherry AO, Carnival Australia; Mark Kelley, JP Morgan; Peter Goode, Transfield Services; Brett Chenoweth, APN News and Media; Ellie Comerford, Genworth; Malcolm Turnbull, Federal Member for Wentworth; Paul Migliorini, BT Australasia; Aaron McKie, Hungry Jacks Australia; Bruce Davidson, Australian Associated Press; Jason Sargent, Red Bull Australia; John Latham, Pfizer Australia; Stephen Porges, Aussie; and Mark Scott, Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

1,047 CEO's took part in this event nationally and they raised over the $5 million mark that will go directly to Vinnies’ homeless services across the country. Donations can continue to be made until 31st August 2012.

“We are very grateful and humbled by the growing support from corporate Australia,” said Julie McDonald, St Vincent de Paul Society, Manager Community and Corporate Relations.

“What it says is that there is a growing awareness among Australia's CEOs that homelessness and social inequality are issues that all of us have a responsibility to address."

Eveleigh Market Manager, Ariana Aljinovic, said they were very happy to support this important event.

“Eveleigh Market is a community focused initiative and the fact we are located in an area like Redfern, where there is so much support for disadvantaged and homeless people, makes it ideal that we and Carriageworks hosted this year's Vinnies CEO Sleepout.”

For more information on the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, please visit www.ceosleepout.org.au