SleepOut aspires to ignite a new wave of philanthropy

The first South African CEO SleepOut is aligned to the global humanitarian movement and aspires to ignite a new wave of philanthropy. In a world challenged by tremendous social problems, a new way of inspiring social change was needed to assist with one of South Africa's most pressing problems - vulnerable children and youth, including those living on our streets.

Apart from raising awareness and funds, an important purpose of the initiative is to nurture empathy from those who are able to shape the future of each participating country through the positions they hold. The discomfort of sleeping on the streets is only a small part of the larger reality the SleepOut's aim to imprint upon influential business and community leaders.

Launched ten years ago in Australia by Bernard Fehon as a local community venture in Sydney's Parramatta, the concept is a truly unique, yet proven one that owes much of its international success to its simplicity - asking business leaders to experience homelessness by sleeping on the streets on one of the coldest nights of the year in whichever hemisphere they live. Fehon who will be attending the media launch of the South African 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut says, "I'm excited to give my blessing to the first CEO SleepOut on the African continent. It's a significant step in creating a worldwide community of business leaders who care about those who are less fortunate." Someone unable to attend this year's event, but who will be attending next year's event, is multiple award-winning British singer and songwriter, Seal. It's a project close to his heart as he slept on the street before becoming famous. Seal is the global ambassador for the CEO SleepOut.

The CEO SleepOut aims to collect more than R25 million for South Africa's vulnerable children. All funds raised by participants and through public donations will go directly to Girls & Boys Town (GBT), a government-recognised dynamic non-profit organisation (NPO) that has proven and successful programmes to rehabilitate and strengthen youth and their families and communities in difficulty. The South African CEO SleepOut event's co-title partners, 702 and Sun International, have demonstrated their belief in this philanthropic revolution by committing to a three-year partnership.

Challenging senior executives to explore the reality of homelessness

Says Terry Volkwyn, Primedia's CEO, "This event reflects what we try to do on air every day - to put people in someone else's shoes, to understand their perspective. By placing senior executives in an environment beyond their comfort zone, we are challenging them to explore the reality of homelessness."

Sun International's CEO, Graeme Stephens, adds, "While we make every effort to ensure the comfort of guests, we are also cognisant that for the less fortunate, a threadbare blanket and a cardboard box are a reality. We believe in the power of collaboration, working together for good. So we are proud to be a part of this initiative."

South African leaders, entrepreneurs and influencers from across all industries, will show that real change comes by doing extraordinary deeds. By embracing social entrepreneurship, The CEO SleepOut will join a worldwide circle of like-minded social entrepreneurs using market forces to drive positive change and raise awareness and funds for the cause of homelessness.

Television, radio, print and social media journalists are invited to join The CEO SleepOut and experience first-hand South Africa's business leaders sleeping out as many of our disadvantaged fellow-citizens do every night. Media can register at www.theceosleepoutza.co.za under the media tab.

Through participants, the event will have a significant social media presence, with participants encouraged to spread the message, together with photographs of their experience, as wide as possible on social media, both to create awareness and raise funds for GBT.

In addition, the inaugural CEO SleepOut has attracted a host of partners who appreciate social and environmental problems for what they really are - opportunities to use their talent and resources to build a better South Africa.

Internationally, the event is a major success. In 2014, participating Australian CEOs raised the equivalent of R70-million overnight, with the event having raised more than R250-million since inception in that country. Inspired by this exceptional success, other countries have followed suit and successful CEO SleepOuts are now staged in New Zealand, Canada and across the United States and the United Kingdom.

On Thursday, 18 June, South Africa's CEO SleepOut will feature a live television cross-over to the 2015 parallel event in Sydney, Australia, forming a ring of solidarity across time zones, oceans and societies - both experiencing homelessness. A video message from Seal will also be screened. Fehon adds, "Today the problem of equity and fairness in society is greater than ever and this event stands out as a superb vehicle for business and community leaders to pause and reflect on what they have, experience what it is like to be homeless and act on what they can do to help others who have far less."

The interactive website is now live, and within the boilerplate are links to several international SleepOuts that give excellent insight into the worldwide project.