With just over a week to go until the 2012 Vinnies CEO Sleepout almost 1000 business leaders from various industries including construction, property, advertising, finance, education, tourism, engineering and legal have already registered, with total fundraising nearing the $2 million mark.

The event calls on CEOs to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness while raising funds for Vinnies homeless services and will be held in all capital cities on Thursday 21 June. The CEOs will sleep out in the cold on sheets of cardboard on the longest night of the year.

This year’s event hopes to raise $5 million.

“We are very grateful and humbled by the growing support from corporate Australia,” Julie McDonald, St Vincent de Paul Society, Manager Community and Corporate Relations said today.

“What it says is that there is a growing awareness among Australia's CEOs that homelessness and social inequality are issues that all of us have a responsibility to address.”

In Sydney, where the event will be held at the new venue of Carriageworks in Redfern, over 250 CEOs have so far raised over half a million dollars.

Just some of our Sydney registrations include: Ann Sherry AO, Franz Donhauser, Shangri-La Hotel Sydney; Carnival Australia; Andrew Brett, Winterhalter Australia; Lyn Lewis-Smith, Business Events Sydney; Michael Lavorato, Campbelltown Catholic Club; Walter Immoos, Novotel Wollongong; Dr Jerry Schwartz, Schwartz Family Co; Jeremy Martin, Travel Together; Michelle Loader, AHS Hospitality, Ashley Spencer, Hilton Worldwide; Andrew Edsor, Quest Apartments North Ryde.

CEOs who take part in the Sleepout are seeking sponsors from colleagues, friends and family. All money raised will go towards the Society’s homeless services across NSW.

To register, sponsor a CEO or donate visit www.ceosleepout.org.au