Illawarra Vinnies CEO Sleepout to Raise Vital Funds for Local Homelessness

Last Wednesday, Wests Illawarra CEO Danny Munk, Flagstaff Group CEO Rodney Von Clark and Shellharbour Marina Real Estate Principal Michelle Mannex were joined by Regional Director South for St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Solange Frost, and The Hon. Alison Byrnes MP, the Federal Member for Cunningham, to officially launch the Illawarra Vinnies CEO Sleepout to raise essential funds for local emergency assistance and to create awareness of the fight against homelessness in the Wollongong region.

Homelessness and housing stress continue to grow in the Wollongong area. In the last nine months, the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW has assisted more than 11,300 people with over $1.5 million worth of assistance. This assistance includes food, clothing, accommodation support and help to pay for electricity bills and life-saving medicines. 

2025 marks Wests Illawarra’s 11^th year supporting the Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

“The issue of homelessness is like an iceberg; so much of it is invisible,” said Danny Munk.

“The situation gets more difficult each year for many people in our communities. Homelessness can affect anyone — women, men and children. It has devastating consequences for individuals and families, including an increasing number of young people and older women. 

“At Wests Illawarra, we firmly believe it is our responsibility, as active members of the Illawarra community, to ensure people struggling on life’s journey are given our care and support. Having a safe and secure place to sleep should not be a privilege; it is a basic human need.”

Michelle Mannex said she is proud to be taking part in this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

“As a woman in business who supports other women every day, I feel a deep responsibility to use my voice for change,” she said. 

“Sleeping rough for one night is a small act, but it sends a powerful message of solidarity and helps fund vital, life-changing support services.”

Rodney Von Clark agreed with Michelle’s sentiments. 

“It’s easy to think homelessness could never happen to us. But the truth is, sometimes it’s just one event, one moment, and everything changes. That’s why I feel so strongly about the CEO Sleepout — when we help someone rebuild their life, we protect the heart of our community right here in Illawarra,” he said. 

The Illawarra-based Vinnies Food Van was onsite at the official launch of the event, acting as a tangible example of one of the services that benefits from the funds raised. It serves up to 70 meals each night to vulnerable community members in the local community and relies on funding from this annual fundraising event to continue meeting the growing demand for food support.

“Initiatives like the Vinnies CEO Sleepout are vital in raising the funds and awareness needed to keep services like the Vinnies Food Van on the road and reaching those who need it most,” said Alison Byrnes MP.

Solange Frost said the charity’s services across the Illawarra region are stretched well beyond capacity.

“As the cost-of-living crisis forces more people into homelessness, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is the biggest fundraising event of the year for our homelessness services. While the issue of homelessness extends beyond one night, we hope to give participants a small insight into one of the great challenges of our time, as well as raise much needed funds to help meet the growing need in the community,” she said. 

Last year, over $41,000 was raised by Wests Illawarra for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout that went directly to providing nourishing meals for people experiencing homelessness in the Illawarra region and supporting the wages of two part-time van assistants for Vinnies Van Wollongong — a result only possible through the collective goodwill and action of the local community.

The links to donate to Danny, Rod and Michelle are below:

• Support Danny Munk
• Support Rodney Von Clark
• Support Michelle Mannex.

Wests Illawarra is also accepting donations of winter clothing as part of this initiative — including beanies, jumpers and scarves. Donations for ‘Winter Warmers’ are accepted at both Wests Illawarra and Flagstaff Group receptions.