The weather was perfect that Thursday night at the corner of Notre Dame and Portage Ave where more than 160 company executives, media people, officers and members of some non-governmental organizations had to experience sleeping out and waking up with more than $210,000 in donations to address the long-term social and economic costs of homelessness.
Organized by Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, the annual CEO Sleep-out on its 4th year. Since 2011, a total of more than $600,000 have been raised to provide means to address homelessness.
Several politicians, from the federal, provincial and civic governments were present, together with some volunteers who gave time and energy, probing that community as a whole works together to help less fortunate Winnipeggers.
As interviewed by the Free Press, Stefano Grande, Downtown BIZ executive director, said:”It ‘s always touching to see community and business leaders comeout and learn a bit more about this issue and spend an evening away from their families and friends. I feel we really have to get going on this issue. There’s a lot more to.”
The CEO Sleep-out is punctuated by tour to the various care-giving institutions and meeting with the homeless as participants discussed many issues, and enjoyed the camaraderie, with laughter, and in between hot coffee and hot soup.
Photos by Ron Cantiveros | Filipino Journal
