Jean-Pierre Gortan, managing director of Sydney-based brokerage Simplicity Loans & Advisory, has cracked the top five on the NSW fundraising leaderboard for Vinnies CEO Sleepout, which will be held on Thursday night.
The annual CEO Sleepout is a one-night event that involves more than 1,000 CEOs, business owners and leaders across Australia sleeping outdoors to support the homeless.
Each participant commits to raising funds to help Vinnies provide essential services for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
At the time of publication, Gortan (pictured above) had so far raised more than $42,000 – which would support Vinnies to provide 133 individual support programs, 351 beds, and 1,404 meals.
Now in his fifth year of doing the CEO Sleepout, Gortan will have raised over $117,000 in total to support homelessness if he reaches his $50,000 goal this year.
The current amount raised puts him currently in fifth place out of more than 400 participants in NSW.
“It's important to acknowledge that every night in Australia, thousands of people are left without a safe and secure place to call home,” Gortan said. “I believe that no one deserves to experience such uncertainty and vulnerability.”
“I hope to gain insight into the harsh realities of sleeping rough and increase awareness of this important issue.”
Gortan’s sponsors include Bendigo Bank, Westpac, Traders in Purple, Marketplace.Finance, Secured Lending, LMG, MSquared, Waterco Limited and Fortis Legal.
Starting in 2006, Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout raised more than $9.4 million last year, exceeding the $9.3 million raised in 2021.
While Gortan may be near the top of the leaderboard, many mortgage industry leaders plan to sleep rough at the White Bay Cruise Terminal in Sydney on June 22 to support the more than 116,000 Australians who do not have a safe place to live.
Now in his third year of the CEO Sleepout, Lendi Group chief distribution officer Brad Cramb will sleep rough again this year, with the company’s co-founders Sebastian Watkins and David Hyman also taking part.
Lendi Group, which plans to raise over $100,000 collectively as individuals and as a company, is matching every Aussie franchisee’s fundraising dollar for dollar.
AFG head of sales and distribution Chris Slater will also be sleeping rough this year.
Also in his third year of participating in the event, Slater has already raised over $13,000, exceeding his target of $12,500.
Gortan looked forward to seeing his peers at the event, saying it was important for the mortgage industry to continue to contribute to the cause and give back to those who are less fortunate.
“I humbly request your support in breaking the cycle of homelessness in Australia. Donating just $100 can make a substantial difference to those in need,” Gortan said. “Please consider contributing to my fundraising efforts and help make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.”
Click here to pledge funds for Simplicity Loans & Advisory’s Jean-Pierre Gortan, here to support AFG’s Chris Slater and his team, or here to contribute to Brad Cramb and the Lendi Group team’s efforts. To find out more about the Vinnies CEO Sleepout click here.
