Perth Glory Football Club CEO Peter Filopoulos, will be joining the fight against homelessness in Western Australia through his participation in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout on the 23rd of June in Perth.
The event, run by the St Vincent de Paul Society, is a fundraiser which involves around 100 business, government and community leaders sleep inside the WACA to help understand what it means to be homeless.
About 10,000 Western Australians are homeless every night and Filopoulos is aiming to raise a minimum of $5 000, which will help the charity provide immediate relief to those in crisis.
“I’m proud to participate in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout because it troubles me to see and hear about the extent of homelessness in Western Australia and throughout Australia” he said.
“I see this as an opportunity to contribute to a worthwhile cause and hope the Perth Glory community can rally behind it,” Filopoulos said.
“I would also like to call on other CEO’s from WA sport clubs to shake off their ties and shoes and jump in a pair of trackies and slum it for a night.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to live a privileged life and I think all of us with an ability to give back should do it” he said.
Currently around 1,400 CEO’s and 10,700 supporters have raised just under $1.5 million through the Vinnies initiative.
St Vincent de Paul WA CEO, Mark Fitzpatrick, believes the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is the perfect opportunity for business, community and government leaders to join in solidarity to help change the lives of those less fortunate.
“This year, we want people to understand the true reality of homelessness,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
“While you sleep, more than 105,000 Australians have no place to call home,” he added.
“Contrary to stereotypes, that has bred the misconception that the homeless are mainly middle-aged, more than 17,000 Australian children under the age of 12 have no home, representing 17% of the overall homeless population.
“Behind each statistic is the story of a fellow Australian – someone just like you and me – who has experienced the extreme isolation and desperation of homelessness,” Mr Fitzpatrick said.
Vinnies work tirelessly throughout the year to assist those experiencing homelessness through a number of ways, including advocacy support, budgeting services, living skills and emergency relief that help rebuild lives.
You can follow Filopoulos’ charitable ways by donating as a supporter or registering for the Sleepout as a CEO or executive at www.ceosleepout.org.au.
