On Thursday, Nov. 20, metro Detroit business leaders will spend the night outside in solidarity in an effort to raise funds and bring attention to the plight of homeless youth in Detroit and across the nation.
The Sleep Out: Executive Edition, hosted by Covenant House Michigan (CHM), presented by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association, and sponsored by Delta Air Lines among others, is part of a nationwide event taking place in 15 cities at Covenant House sites across North America. From Anchorage to New York, and for the first time in Detroit, men and women from the business community will come together to raise awareness and funds to support Covenant House’s life-changing work helping young people leave the streets and begin new lives.
“There are more than 5,000 young people in metro Detroit who wander the streets on any given night in search of a warm bed, a hot meal and someone to care for them, so I encourage the business community to join us Nov. 20 to take a stand against youth homelessness,” said Gerry Piro, CHM executive director. “It doesn’t matter whether you are the vice president of a Fortune 500 company or an executive of a local business, you can make a difference by sleeping out for just one night.”
CHM’s Sleep Out: Executive Edition coincides with the organization’s 17th annual Candlelight Vigil Against Homelessness at the CHM campus (2959 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in Detroit) and is an opportunity for the community to stand together with CHM to shed light on youth homelessness. The vigil, which is open to the public, begins at 6 p.m. The keynote speaker will be Detroit Deputy Mayor Ike McKinnon.
Immediately following the vigil, the Sleep Out: Executive Edition will begin with a reception, tour and roundtable discussion. Executives will be given cardboard boxes and a sleeping bag for their night on the pavement at the CHM grounds. All participants will raise funds from their companies, friends and family in support of the organization.
“Every young person deserves a safe place to sleep and a roof over their head. As a mother of three young adults myself, it’s heartbreaking to know of the homeless youth in our state,” said Sue Snyder, Michigan’s first lady and honorary chair for the 2014 CHM Sleep Out: Executive Edition. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to support Covenant House Michigan and their first annual sleep out this fall. Together, we can raise awareness for this important cause and help provide Michigan’s homeless youth with the housing, safety and support they need.”
Last year, 450 business leaders in the U.S. and Canada spent one night on the street during the Covenant House Nationwide Sleep Out, collectively raising more than $3 million to support the organization’s life-saving programs for homeless youth. For its first year event, CHM hopes to raise more than $100,000 for the cause.
“I’m thrilled to play a role in this remarkable and very powerful event,” said Jacqueline Wilson, Wayne State University first lady, founder of WSU’s Helping Individuals Go Higher (HIGH) Program and co-chair of 2014 CHM Sleep Out: Executive Edition. “Wayne State’s longtime partnership with Covenant House is a wonderful example of its unwavering commitment to addressing and eradicating homelessness within our community.”
Executive Sleep Out participants to date include Andrea Fischer Newman, senior vice president, government affairs, Delta Air Lines; Kimberly Mulqueen, partner, Deloitte Consulting; Mike Sarafa, president and CEO, Bank of Michigan; David Senatore, vice president, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Sam Slaughter, incoming president, Detroit Auto Dealers Association; Jason Brown, principal, PublicCity PR; Rich Thompson, president, MST Steel; and Dan Weingartz, partner and president, Weingartz.
The Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) is proud to be the Presenting Sponsor of the 2014 Covenant House Sleep Out in Michigan. DADA is comprised of 200 member dealerships in Detroit and surrounding communities and is committed to supporting charitable efforts in Southeast Michigan to enhance and/or improve the lives of those in our community who are in need. Delta Air Lines has committed as a Top Tier Sponsor for this event.
For more information on how to participate or sponsor, call 313-463-2004 or visit https://www.thesleepout.org or https://www.covenanthousemi.org.
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