Leading Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist Chris Christofi has achieved his ambitious reocord-breaking goal to raise $250,000 for people experiencing homelessness.
More than 100 community and business leaders slept outdoors overnight on Thursday 23 June at the Port Melbourne Timber Yard to raise funds for Vinnies homelessness services.
The Founder and CEO of property investment and finance group Reventon, slept rough as part of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout for the fifth year in a row.
The CEO Sleepout is a one-night event over one of the longest and coldest nights of the year. Hundreds of CEOs, business owners as well as community and government leaders sleep outdoors to support the many Australians who are experiencing homelessness and people at risk of homelessness. Each CEO Sleepout participant commits to raising a minimum amount of funds to help Vinnies provide essential services to the people who need them.
Christofi, who also wears the hats of international speaker, property investor and best selling author, grew up with a strong work ethic in a Greek Cypriot family.
He owned eight properties by the age of 24, only to lose them all when his then partnership collapsed. He then went on to start his business, Reventon, from his parents’ house at the age of 25 with $348,000 worth of debt.
With a lot of hard work and perseverance, Christophi’s Reventon is one of Australia’s most well known property and finance companies, having helped more than 3,000 people buy property,
offering property investment, mortgage, finance, tax and accounting services.
Chris Christofi in line with 100 CEOs sleeping rough on Thursday. Photo: Supplied
Chris Christofi for 2022's Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Photo: Supplied
The Greek Cypriot businessman representing team Reventon as he raises funds for the homeless. Photo: Supplied
Christofi, picking his cardboard box, ready to sleep rough for the greater good. Photo: Supplied
Stressing that every year 116,427 people experience homelessness in Australia on any given night, with more than 24,000 Victorians – including families with children, young and older people, as well as many disabled individuals – he now plans to build a house with the funds raised and auction it off, giving all proceeds to St Vincent de Paul.
“I’m ecstatic to have reached my goal,” said Christofi, who has raised more than $555,000 for the charity since 2018 with this year bringing in a total of $259,110 and counting.
“With the money raised, Vinnies will deliver three mobile kitchens, increase homelessness services at Ozanam House and Quin House by funding almost 50 extra beds and wraparound support for those needing accommodation, as well as help volunteer-run services continue to provide food, petrol, utilities support and other material aid.”
“Homelessness can happen to anyone; it can be nothing more than an unfortunate set of circumstances,” he added.
“I experienced financial hardship in the early days of my career and I’m acutely aware that it could easily have been me if I didn’t have the support of my family.”
“I’m proud to have completed my fifth CEO Sleepout and am already setting donation goals for next year.”