Community leaders sleep out for homeless youth
Annual fundraiser brings in more than $1 million for Covenant House
Some of the city's top business and community leaders woke up outside on concrete this morning — part of the annual effort to raise awareness and support for homeless youth at Covenant House.
"It is really important to understand what kids go through being homeless," said CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge, the event's honorary chair.
"This is just a little glimpse. I can't begin to fully appreciate what their trials and tribulations are."
This year's participants included Richard Senechal, president and CEO of DUCA Financial Services Credit Union, film and television actor Dan Payne, business journalist Amanda Lang, and Paula Courtney, CEO of the Verde Group research consultancy. They spent the night in sleeping bags, on a strip of cardboard.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExecSleepoutTO?src=hash">#ExecSleepoutTO</a> ready to head outside for the night. Sleep well knowing you raised > $1 mil for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/homelessyouth?src=hash">#homelessyouth</a>! <a href="https://t.co/sDIRCre7Ux">pic.twitter.com/sDIRCre7Ux</a>
—@CovenantHouseTOThis is the fourth Covenant House Executive Sleep Out, which this year has already passed its $1 million fundraising goal by more than $30,000.
On average, Covenant House serves more than 1,700 young people each week.
To date, the Sleep Out has raised more than $3 million for the agency.
Sleep was rough for all, but the sun finally came. Enjoy your well-deserved breakfast! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ExecSleepoutTO?src=hash">#ExecSleepoutTO</a> <a href="https://t.co/JXj1XiNQnu">pic.twitter.com/JXj1XiNQnu</a>
—@CovenantHouseTO