Women Building Change members in front of their Wall Of Pledges, which will help the group of prominent Canberra leaders raise $100,000 for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
In the heart of Fyshwick, a growing patchwork of generosity is taking shape.
The windows of Solace Creations are being transformed into a Wall of Pledges – a vibrant public display of Canberra leaders uniting to tackle homelessness.
Behind it is Women Building Change, a team of passionate changemakers from within and around the construction industry rallying support ahead of this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout.
They’re calling on businesses to pledge products, services or funds – generous offerings that will be auctioned through ALLBIDS with every dollar going to Vinnies Canberra Region.
Pledges so far include a $5000 voucher for insulation from Alexander Watson, a will kit from MV Law, four all-inclusive tickets to Thoroughbred Park’s Melbourne Cup event, theatre passes, workwear vouchers, leadership coaching and much more.
The funds will be pooled and shared across all participating CEO Sleepout women in the Women Building Change campaign – an all-female group of government, developers, builders and suppliers associated with the property and construction industries.
The group was dreamed up by Canberra businesswoman Danielle Cleary from Danielle Cleary Events and successfully implemented alongside her contemporaries, Build Like A Girl Australia founder Jo Farrell, ACT Building & Construction Industry Training Fund Authority’s Jo Whitfield and Karen Porter from Solace Creations.
“Over a coffee Danielle brought us this idea and said ‘what do you think?’,” Ms Farrell says.
An ambassador for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Ms Farrell joined with Property Council ACT and Capital Region executive director Ashlee Berry to combine their collective clout. It would not only help the cause, but send a powerful message about what Canberra’s leaders could achieve when they worked together.
“Ashlee and I are best mates and also fiercely competitive. But we can either individually compete to raise money or rope in a bunch of other people into Danielle’s idea and show the nation’s capital what women supporting women can do,” Ms Farrell says.
“Without a doubt, together is a stronger way to tackle these issues.
“It’s historically been the same men topping the Vinnies CEO Sleepout leader board each year; we want to change that this year and demonstrate the impact women can have when we band together.”
The Women Building Change group now has 28 women signed up to be part of the sleepout – about a quarter of all participants. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
To do this, Ms Farrell says Women Building Change has set the lofty but achievable target of $200,000.
Having already raised more than $100,000, the team is halfway to its goal with a few weeks to go and plenty of cards up its collective sleeve, including a Canberra comedy gala hosted by Caitlin (Sparkle) Maggs.
The Women Building Change group now has 28 incredible women signed up to be part of the sleepout, accounting for about a quarter of the total participants.
“I think it’s a fundamental truth that when there’s a problem that needs fixing, women will step up when the time comes,” Ms Farrell says.
“It helps that Canberra has such a strong representation of really influential – and quite fierce – women.”
A powerhouse of well-respected leaders in Canberra’s construction and property industry, the group also includes Catherine Carter of Salon Canberra, ACT Chief Engineer Gillian Geraghty, Christine Shaw of Christine Shaw Properties and Jessica Stewart of Ginninderry.
“All of us are deeply concerned about the state of play, what’s happening in our community and why women are so incredibly vulnerable when it comes to homelessness and the issues Vinnies deals with. We will not sit idly by and watch – so this is our statement,” Ms Farrell says.
“I went to Vinnie’s donation centre in Hackett and Vinnies Roadhouse – their food hub in the city. They feed 90 people a day and for many of them, it’s the only meal they’ll get. There is demand for three times that, but they’re not getting anywhere near the level of support they need.
“I know everyone is doing it tough. I get it, I run a business. But it’s not up to any one entity or sector to solve this problem – we have to all wrap around Vinnies.”
For more information visit the Vinnies CEO Sleepout ACT.
