The 2016 Sun International CEO SleepOut was launched on Tuesday in Johannesburg under the #SouthAfricaMustRise and #4Leaders4Change hashtags. It will take place on Nelson Mandela Bridge on July 28, where CEOs will spend the night on the streets, raising empathy and funds for the homeless.

The first South African 702 Sun International CEO SleepOut took place in 2015 where 247 business leaders spent the night on the streets to raise funds for the homeless. The event raised R26-million for its founding beneficiary partner Girls and Boys Town. 

Backed by the CEO SleepOut Trust more emphasis had been focused on education. This year the beneficiaries are ASHA Trust, Columba Leadership Academy and the Steve Biko Foundation.

ASHA Trust director, Deirdre Caulwell said more than three-million children in vulnerable communities had no access to early childhood development programmes. She said such circumstances often put them at enormous risk and the likelihood of early school drop-out.

The event was part of the global movement for positive social change. Last year the event had aimed to raise R25-million but because of the support it received it was able to raise R26-million. 

The CEO SleepOut Trust’s goal is to receive donations from third parties in relation to The CEO SleepOut Events, provide funding and support services, and ensure all funds are disseminated to the appointed beneficiary partners with absolute transparency and accountability. It is also responsible for ensuring the smooth activation of the beneficiaries’ legacy projects, born out of the funds raised from The CEO SleepOut Events.

Those responsible for this task are the appointed members of the working group - a collective that is passionate and driven by a common cause. It is made up of Champions of Change, representatives of The CEO SleepOut Trust and the City of Johannesburg, amongst others.

Australian High Commissioner to South Africa Adam McCarthy said he was excited to be part of an initiative that started in Sydney ten years ago. McCarthy who took part at last year’s event challenged CEOs to get involved, adding that even though it could be uncomfortable it was for a good cause.

Shell South Africa chairman and VP Bonang Mohale said people did not have to be CEOs to be part of the initiative, encouraging more to take part this year. “Sleeping out on a cardboard on a coldest night was an achievement. This was about being change agents,” said Mohale.

A trustee of the initiative and also a partner at leading South African law firm Adams & Adams, Darren Olivier, said 2015 beneficiaries Girls and Boys Town appreciated the donations and were extremely appreciative of the effort to assist their organisation.

One of the biggest sponsors of the 2016 CEO SleepOut, Sun International CEO Graeme Stephens, who had taken part since the event’s inception, said he was privileged to be part of the event again this year.

He said CEO SleepOut was the single largest fundraising event South Africa had ever seen.