CEO SleepOut events planned for Joburg‚ Cape Town‚ Durban and Port Elizabeth in 2016
• 247 CEOs and business leaders involved.
• Overnight low of -3ºC.
• Total amount raised R26,054,869.
The last figure was confirmed by auditors BDO SA as the amount raised for the inaugural 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut charity event‚ which was held in June this year.
It is‚ the organisers said‚ “the largest sum ever raised by a single South African charity event‚ while worldwide it is the largest amount of funds raised for any inaugural [SleepOut] event”.
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“Sydney hosted their 10th event this year and Johannesburg raised more than Sydney in year one – despite the weakened exchange rate‚” a statement on Tuesday said.
But for Brett Levy‚ the joint-CEO of Blue Label Telecoms‚ who contributed the highest donation of R540,000: “The CEO SleepOut illustrated the power of collective energy to show the true spirit of ubuntu.”
The funds raised will - according to Ali Gregg‚ founder of The Philanthropic‚ which brought the CEO SleepOut concept here – be held by Girls & Boys Town (GBT).
“Accountability and transparency are key‚ and GBT will release details on the allocation of funds after consideration from The CEO SleepOut Trust and appointed working group.” Gregg said.
“Everyone involved is thrilled to see an organisation like GBT receiving a donation of this size‚ knowing that GBT offers long-term‚ sustainable solutions and care to homeless and vulnerable children.”
GBT’s CEO Lee Loynes says: “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.”
Paul Dunne‚ CEO of Northam Platinum‚ described it as “a humbling experience”‚ while Investec Bank’s CEO Stephen Koseff said: “Being one of the privileged few‚ we have to understand how the underprivileged live.”
Gregg also announced that the CEO SleepOut events will be held in Johannesburg‚ Cape Town‚ Durban and Port Elizabeth next year.
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