Sydney, 24 June 2015: Clayton Utz has continued its long-running participation in Vinnies annual CEO Sleepout, contributing over $20,000 to this year's fundraising effort to support St Vincent de Paul Society's essential homeless services across Australia.
Clayton Utz chief executive partner Rob Cutler and tax partner Mark Friezer joined hundreds of business leaders across Australia on 18 June in spending a night out in the cold. Rob and Mark have so far raised over $20,000 - surpassing their original fundraising targets. The Clayton Utz Foundation has supported their efforts with a $5,000 donation.
Mark said the CEO Sleepout was an effective way of bringing the business community together to support an important cause. "It's one small way we can contribute to raising awareness of homelessness as a problem that continues to blight Australia, and raise much-needed funds to help Vinnies support our homeless population."
Clayton Utz's participation in Vinnies' CEO Sleepout builds upon a range of assistance we provide to support those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and the organisations that support them, through our Pro Bono practice, Community Connect program and the Clayton Utz Foundation.
Our lawyers have provided advice and representation to thousands of clients at seven different outreach legal clinics, located at places where clients can feel more confident about speaking to a lawyer. We also conduct three drop-in legal clinics for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness: in Melbourne at Drill Hall as part of the PILCH Victoria Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic, and in Brisbane at the Salvation Army Pindari Men's and Pindari Women's Hostels as part of the QPILCH Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic. Clayton Utz is also part of the Welfare Rights Legal StreetLaw project in Canberra.