Sydney, 23 June 2009: Clayton Utz representatives braved the cold and rain to help raise awareness of the plight of Australia's homeless as part of the annual St Vincent de Paul CEO Sleepout held on 18 June.
With a sleeping bag each and nothing more than a piece of cardboard to sleep on, Clayton Utz partners Mary Still, Michael Corrigan, Rob Cutler and John Fairbairn and Community Connect Manager Vicki Heffernan joined 220 CEOs and business leaders at Luna Park to raise money for St Vincent de Paul's homeless services.
Commenting on the experience of sleeping out on one of the wettest nights of the year, competition partner and Sleepout team leader Michael Corrigan said: "There was tremendous goodwill amongst the participants, and great generosity from our sponsors in supporting St Vincent de Paul in trying to meet the needs of the homeless this winter. All in all, one night out was bearable but brought home the reality of what life on the streets is like."
Michael said the Clayton Utz representatives were inspired to take up the challenge because the firm, through its Pro Bono and Community Connect programs, works with a number of wonderful organisations which offer not only the basic necessities of shelter and food for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness but also provide access to our legal system.
The Clayton Utz team raised almost $25,000 which will go towards helping St Vincent de Paul provide relief to the homeless through crisis accommodation, domestic violence support and access to budget counselling and legal advice, educating people on making better choices in life.