With just seven sleeps to go until the 2022 Vinnies CEO Sleepout, Antonia ‘Toni’ Marzulli, newly minted CEO of Synergy Group, sat down with CW in the lead up to her first foray into the annual fundraising event.
Thursday 23 June marks the second time Synergy Group will participate in the Sleepout, after 10 of their executive level participants, including the former CEO, joined last year’s impressive effort of raising $1 million, exceeding their goal of $600,000, to assist the ACT’s homeless population.
The 13th Sleepout in Canberra will take place in the concrete courtyard of the National Portrait Gallery, on one of the longest nights of the year.
Toni was still in her first six months at the company when she was asked to take on the challenge; a challenge that was fortunately right up her alley.
Philadelphia-born and raised, Toni was a domestic violence counsellor for 10 years back in the US. While working fulltime, she volunteered one night a week to work the midnight-to-5am shift.
“At night, [the calls] were usually urgent, where I might be engaging with the police, or connecting them with a shelter.
“Oftentimes, it was women needing support, and some real listening. Not providing advice, but empowering how they can address their challenges, especially in the moment.
“When I make the connection between the statistics around women and children, who are disproportionately impacted by homelessness, oftentimes because they are struggling with domestic violence, that becomes another reason for me to want to do this,” said Toni.
“Yes, you can donate money, but when you donate time, your personal commitment, your passion, the investment just becomes real.”
This year, Vinnies aims to raise $750,000 to support its services across the Canberra/Goulburn region, including The Night Patrol van that provides food and assistance to those experiencing homelessness across the ACT.
An anticipated 130 of the region’s government, business, and community leaders are set to sleep out on the cold winter night – like so many less fortunate Canberrans every night of the year.
“I think there is a privilege associated with being a CEO or a senior level executive that behoves us to reflect, take ownership, and be able to make an impact in the community,” said Toni.
“Losing a job, having challenges with mental illness, family and domestic violence, that cuts across class, it cuts across education levels.
“We can’t overcome something until we talk about it openly. We need to be able to put something in the spotlight to receive the awareness and the understanding that leads to social change.
“When you become aware of a social challenge, it’s hard to turn away from it. It’s hard to close your eyes to something that’s right in front of you.”
In the month leading up to the Sleepout, Toni has already raised $1,000, but said, with a smile, that she has much bigger goals in mind. According to Toni, this year Synergy Group will match every dollar raised by their team.
“In saying that, the message is just as important as the financial goal. There is a taboo, a stigma around homelessness, and we need to demystify it to ensure that it’s receiving the appropriate amount of empathy.
“If we can remove the fear around having these conversations, that would be the best outcome we could achieve this year.”
The 2022 event is set to see the highest percentage of female CEOs and business leaders in Canberra rolling out their sleeping bags for the cause.
“There’s a well-known quote that says, ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t be it’,” said Toni. “That same principle applies to raising awareness around homelessness.
“Seeing females champion the cause from an executive level creates awareness that, I believe, a broader population of individuals would be willing to listen to, to hear what we have to say, and then find a way to champion for the cause themselves.”
The current forecast for the night is a frosty low of minus-one degrees. Participants are given a cardboard box as a degree of separation between their sleeping bag and the concrete.
“Doing it in winter makes the experience more real,” said Toni. “It challenges you as an individual to pause and to reflect.” While nervous, Toni said she welcomes that challenge.
“I know that one night of sleeping outside does not create the understanding of prolonged struggling with homelessness, but it does provide a singular point of reference that connects us as human beings.
“I’m sure I’ll desperately want a shower and some hot coffee afterwards, which I have the privilege to go home and get. That’s not the experience for individuals who are truly experiencing homelessness.”
The 2016 Census reported that the number of women over 55 experiencing homelessness has increased by 31 per cent since 2011. Toni heads into the challenge with these numbers, and stories heard late at night through the hotline, close to her heart.
“Not being able to find a place to sleep intensifies the challenges that those in domestic violence situations are already experiencing. It might prevent some women from leaving a dangerous circumstance because which challenge is worse? Which evil do you choose – being homeless or not leaving a violent situation?
“No one chooses to be in those circumstances, and we need to be able to provide the support that helps uplift in a way that we can all feel safe.”
Visit ceosleepout.org.au to donate or find out more.
