GlobalX CEO and Vinnies CEO Sleepout Ambassador Peter Maloney has urged fellow business leaders to join the fight against homelessness, by joining the Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout.
The CEO Sleepout will take place across the country including in Brisbane on June 21 – the longest night of the year.
Now in its 13th year, the Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout has gathered hundreds of Australia’s top executives and government leaders over the years to sleep out in the elements for one night.
Mr Maloney said being homeless is frequently not a choice, but a result of many social, economic and health-related factors.
“Almost 22,000 Queenslanders are homeless with more than 5,000 of those being under 18,” Mr Maloney said.
“These are jarring numbers and I believe it is up to business leaders to get involved.
“It’s easy to forget in our daily corporate lives that homelessness is an issue, but I call on business leaders and CEOs across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast to take action.”
Mr Maloney has committed to raising $20,000 for the CEO Sleepout after two decades of volunteering for Vinnies.
Vinnies CEO Peter Maher said Queensland had the third highest homeless population in Australia and Queensland’s CEO Sleepout aimed to raise $1 million.
“Each night almost 6,000 people in Brisbane have no place to call home,” Mr Maher said.
“Vinnies are providing more than 1,230 beds per night across the state and our networks in an effort to help the more than 300,000 Queenslanders who are in need.
“It is appalling that we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world and people are still homeless.”
Mr Maher urged the 13,000 businesses in Queensland with more than 20 staff to consider joining the fundraising effort.
“If each of those Queensland CEOs or general managers raised $5,000 that would be nearly $64 million dollars that could house more than 500 people per night.”
To support GlobalX CEO Peter Maloney, donate here.