Consulting leaders help 2024 Vinnies CEO Sleepout raise millions

26 June 2024 Consultancy.com.au

Consulting leaders have participated in the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout at events across the country – and even beyond – raising valuable funds to support homelessness.

The latest edition of the St Vincent de Paul Society’s annual sleepout has so far raised over $8 million toward critical support services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, with donation channels still open.

Many of the consulting leaders who participated last year have once again braved the conditions, including Infosys Asia Pacific executive vice president Andrew Groth, who spent the night out on the street in Austin, Texas.

Consulting leaders help 2024 Vinnies CEO Sleepout raise millions

Since its inception in 2006, the charity event has brought in almost $100 million in donations, yet this year’s edition has taken place against the backdrop of a severe cost-of-living crisis, which is both pushing people out of an unaffordable rental market in greater numbers and impacting the ability of others to donate. Inflation also adds to the cost of providing services.

Nevertheless, more than 40,000 Australians have pitched in to the tune of $8.3 million to date, with donations open until the end of next month and the chance to eclipse last year’s $8.9 million total still in sight. Funds raised will go towards a range of services including crisis accommodation, domestic and family violence refuges, specialist healthcare, and Vinnies soup vans.

Among those to have made a significant contribution this year was Groth, whose $6,000 in donations raised to date now takes his total over the past five years to more than $30,000 – the equivalent of 250 beds and 1,000 meals. And while Austin is relatively safe compared to many of its US counterparts, it still must have been daunting to participate in the event alone.

Groth though chose to honour his commitment despite unavoidable work-related travel; “The first reaction I received from people was significant concern for my safety. This made me focus on the dangers of being homeless. Apart from the hunger, impact to hygiene, comfort and pride, being homeless puts you in harm’s way. Be it bad weather or crime, you are completely vulnerable.”

Biggest fundraisers

Back in Australia, a number of teams from the country’s mid-tier accounting and consulting space are battling it out to be crowned the sector’s top fundraiser. William Buck Adelaide-based director duo Babis Mavrakis and Andrew Barlow have put in a huge effort to raise more than $25,000 between them, while BDO’s Brisbane team – led by Anthony Whyte and Bhupesh Kaphle – have cracked the $30,000 mark.

Also closing in on that figure is the team from SW Accountants & Advisors in Victoria, helped along by the $12,000-plus raised by partner Chris Dexter (taking him past $50,000 in just four years), with the almost $7,000 raised by Crowe senior partner Alison Flakemore currently the highest tally in Tasmania. Four-decade PwC veteran Richard Stewart has also helped bring in just shy of $8,000 in Sydney.

Elsewhere in the consulting industry, the Downer Professional Services team has raised over $25,000, led by general manager Brad Thompson, while Enterprise lead partner Adam Twemlow has helped KPMG contribute over $20,000 on the Gold Coast. Andre Morgan of Mantel Group, Kinetic IT CEO Michael North, and Fujifilm CodeBlue Australia general manager Jason Wornham are among individuals to have raised over $5,000.

With donations open until the end of July, Grosvenor managing director Stefan Gassner is also still in with a shot to reach that target, as is Astrolabe Group director Michael Comninos.

Meanwhile, a special mention should go to boutique advisory founders Andrew Sullivan (Sullivan Consulting), Howard Ong (Aurora Consulting), and Mark O’Malley (Delta Sierra Consulting), who have all raised upwards of $14,000 apiece.

Yolanda Saiz, St Vincent de Paul Society’s NSW CEO thanked all of the participants and donors; “Our services are seeing surging levels of demand, including many people who have never needed support previously. The Vinnies CEO Sleepout is only one night for the participants who brave the cold, but it has the ability to make a lasting impact for the people we assist every day.”