On one of the coldest nights of this year SalesFix Director and Owner Jason Lawrence will be sleeping outdoors to support the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness. Right now in Australia more than 116,000 people do not have a place to call home and through Jason’s participation in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout he will be raising much needed funds which directly assist people experiencing homelessness in his local community.
The Vinnies CEO Sleepout raises funds to provide services such as:
- funding new initiatives
- ensuring existing homeless services, like food vans and emergency support, continue
- expanding the reach of existing programs to ensure every Australian can access accommodation, meals, and emergency assistance when they need it.
We caught up with Jason to get some insight into why he is passionate about participating in this event.
SalesFix: Why are you participating in the Vinnies CEO sleepout?
Jason: I’m privileged to have always had a roof over my head, even if it happens to be a caravan at the moment (by choice). I have seen homelessness around me, especially in San Francisco and Melbourne and feel that by participating in the CEO Sleepout I can bring more awareness of the issue to myself and others.
SalesFix: You have participated in previous years, can you explain a little more about what the experience is like and what you have taken away from it?
Jason: Yes in 2015 I slept out at Suncorp stadium and in 2017 I slept under the Story Bridge. It’s cold! You sleep on a layer of cardboard in a sleeping bag. There’s lots going on around you so it is actually hard to get any sleep. A trick I learned is to wear a beanie on the head to keep out the cold and ear plugs to keep out the noise. It is hard to imagine sleeping like that every night and that is why I am so passionate about raising awareness.
SalesFix: How important are the services that Vinnies provides for people who are experiencing homelessness?
Jason: At the sleepout I will get to interact with the Vinnies and Rosies – Friends on the street volunteers. They will provide me with a meal and a much needed hot chocolate, but most importantly I will get to hear the first hand stories of what it means to support those experiencing homelessness in our local community. I will have the opportunity to thank them in person for the amazing services they provided. These volunteers give so much, not only their own time but their kindness for others. Sometimes this is the only human connection those experiencing homelessness have.
SalesFix: What are your goals for this year’s event?
Jason: This year I want to raise much-needed $5000 for the cause. I also want to bring awareness to my SalesFix team and my wider peers about this cause and to try to get at least 5 hours sleep. I really want to inspire more of the people around me to do something for their community.
SalesFix: What would you like to say to other CEOs and business owners who are thinking about participating?
Jason: Come and join me, if nothing else you’ll get out of home and your comfort zone and get to meet some amazing CEOs. If you can’t join that’s OK, you can help by making a DONATION HERE
We will be following Jason in his journey over the coming month and are looking forward to helping him raise the funds for this very worthwhile cause.
To learn more you can visit: www.ceosleepout.org.au
