Business and community leaders are set to brave the cold at Hunter Stadium in Broadmeadow tonight, sleeping under the stars for the 2016 Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
The 55 CEO's from Newcastle, both individual and in business teams, will be spending the night at the stadium with only a sleeping bag, three sheets of cardboard and the clothes on their back to keep them warm.
Already, the event has raised $4.3 million nationally, but there is still some way to go to make the national target of $6.5 million.
Regional Operations Manager Ken Hill says Newcastle alone have raised $75, 000 so far and are getting quite competitive.
"We've just got a little bit of a competitive streak going on at the moment because we've found out that Woolongong has raised over $100, 000 and they've got the same number of CEO's so we're trying to get people to get behind it, contact their networks and help raise some funds for this worthwhile cause."
Last year money raised from the event helped provide over 820, 000 meals and almost 258, 000 bed nights for people experiencing disadvantage and homelessness, as well as helping run numerous programs.
Ken Hill says the Sleepout gives CEO's and senior managers a glimpse into what it's like to experience homelessness on the streets and, "utilise their networks and supplement networks to raise funds to help St Vincent de Paul carry out our work with homeless people and a number of different programs that we have".
Major leaders participating in the Newcastle event include Adam Boyle (Pegasus), Kirsten Molloy (Hunter Valley Coal), Clint Newton (Rugby League Player Association), Michael Crocker (Rugby League Player Association), Matty Kerr and Jimmy Wright (Nanna Kerr's Kitchen).
