Sydney, 05 June 2015 – CBRE’s senior leaders have thrown their weight behind the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, raising close to $33,000 at an auction night in the Yarra Valley to support Executive Chairman Tom Southern’s campaign.
Mr Southern will take part in the New South Wales CEO sleepout event on June 18, curling up with little more than some cardboard bedding at Luna Park to raise money for those experiencing homelessness in Australia.
To boost fundraising efforts, an auction was staged at CBRE’s Pacific Leadership Conference on May 25, with 60 of CBRE’s senior personnel rallying together for the cause.
Staff donated a range of items to auction on the night, including vintage champagne, sporting memorabilia, a chauffeured transfer in a 1963 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud and the top prize of three nights’ accommodation at Qualia on Hamilton Island, which sold for $5,000.
The auction, which was hosted by CBRE Executive Managing Director, Metropolitan Investments, Scott Gray-Spencer, also included some more creative items, including a year’s supply of Tim Tams and a Fender Stratocaster air guitar signed by Ace Frehley (with lessons and a case thrown in to sweeten the deal).
AFL legend Kevin Sheedy, who was a keynote speaker at the conference, also donated a signed 150 Years of Football Special Edition print, which was auctioned off for $1,500.
The auction raised $32,350, taking Mr Southern’s fundraising total to almost $48,000.
Mr Southern said the support shown by not just the firm’s senior staff, but by all employees had been outstanding.
“It’s quite incredible what a relatively small group of people can achieve when they join forces and is a true testament to the strong philanthropic spirit that exists within CBRE,” Mr Southern said.
“The generosity displayed by our people is a real expression of what they represent as individuals in society, not just within the company.”
Mr Southern is forging ahead with his fundraising, aiming to reach $55,000 by June 18 for the CEO Sleepout event.
“While Australia is one of the most advantaged places on the planet, there are unfortunately still people who live far below the line of acceptable living standards. The Vinnies CEO Sleepout will really help towards alleviating some of this misery,” Mr Southern explained.
The recent auction isn’t the first time CBRE’s senior leaders have united to raise much need funds for a worthy cause.
In 2011, at CBRE’s Pacific Leadership Conference, the firm raised NZ$94,000 through auction for the Christchurch Earthquake appeal. Senior employees pulled together to donate a range of items including sporting memorabilia, weekends away and the rights to work for a week in the office of Tom Southern.
To further boost fundraising efforts, Mr Southern is offering the highest bidding employee the opportunity to “dress the boss”, where he will take them out to lunch, dinner or drinks wearing an outfit of their choice.
Clients and suppliers are also being encouraged to donate to the cause, with Mr Southern donning merchandise and logos of the highest bidder during the sleepout.
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About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (in terms of 2014 revenue). The Company has more than 52,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate owners, investors and occupiers through more than 370 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers strategic advice and execution for property sales and leasing; corporate services; property, facilities and project management; mortgage banking; appraisal and valuation; development services; investment management; and research and consulting. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.
