The 2018 Canberra/Goulburn Vinnies CEO Sleepout was officially launched on Wednesday 18 April at the National Museum of Australia.
Money raised will provide people experiencing homelessness with vital access to food and accommodation, as well as education, counseling, employment and health services to help people overcome poverty in the long term.
Last year, participants raised $5.6 million nationally, which equates to 1,949,673 individual support programs, 689,819 beds and 1,590,554 meals.
Mr Hood was the highest fundraiser in the ACT and surrounds last year, raising more than $68,000.
Money raised will provide people experiencing homelessness with vital access to food and accommodation.
“It was my first year participating in the CEO Sleepout,” Mr Hood said. “I was shocked to learn that, even here, in the national capital, more than 1700 people face homelessness each day, including an estimated 289 children.
“I was humbled by the number of people – ranging from industry contacts to employees to personal friends – who rallied to help me exceed my fundraising target last year.”
Last year, Canberra CEOs slept out at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.
“It was the coldest night of any participating location in the country,” Mr Hood said. “It certainly puts homelessness into perspective when you consider that we were all able to sleep in our warm beds the next night.”
This year Canberra/Goulburn participants will sleep at the National Museum of Australia on 21 June.
Please consider supporting the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.