The Western Australian CEO Sleepout has raised $700,000 and counting after a successful 2012 event which culminated in 106 CEOs staying at the WA Cricket Association ground last night.
Burswood Entertainment Complex CEO Barry Felstead took out the top fund raiser award with a total that had reached more $56,000 at 7.45pm last night, an amount which has since climbed past $57,000 overnight.
It is third year running that Mr Felstead has won the WA prize; a plump and comfortable pillow.
Nationally, his efforts to date to raise money for the St Vincent de Paul Society program to assist the homeless were bested only by three CEOs from NSW, including the chiefs of Commonwealth Bank, Ian Narev, and Westpac, Gail Kelly, both of whom raised over $100,000 each, and one from Queensland.
The second highest tally in WA was Equatorial Resources CEO John Welborn with more than $40,000, leading a pack of mining and mining services company leaders.
Emeco Holdings CEO Keith Gordon raised $24,000, Monadelphous managing director Rob Velletri’s total was at $23,730, Pacific Energy CEO Adam Boyd struck 23,215, Kentz country manager Brian Kelly hit $23,140 and Vinnies state president Clement Astruc brought in $21,351.
BC Iron CEO Mike Young was the last of the CEOs to reach $20,000 last night, although this reporter, standing in for Business News CEO Elton Swarts, managed to reach that benchmark early this morning.
Benz Industries managing director Bob Bollen rounded out the top 10 with $16,575 this morning, a higher tally than the biggest fund raisers in several other states and territories.
Fortescue Metals Group founder Andrew Forrest, who was one of the sleepover group at the WACA last night, has delivered on his promise to add $5,000 to the tally of any individual who raised $20,000 or more, and $2,000 to any total above $10,000.
Those top ups amount to around $59,000.
Donations were still coming today and can be accepted for several days.
The sleepout itself was conducted with a great deal of camaraderie on a night which reportedly dropped to below 1C at the WACA (official temperature was around 2C) where those partaking had distributed themselves around the stands – except one brave soul who slept on the turf wicket at the centre of the stadium.
Top 10 as at approximately 3pm:
Barry Felstead has raised $62,707.00
John Welborn has raised $45,051.00
Keith Gordon has raised $29,064.00
Rob Velletri has raised $28,850.00
Adam Boyd has raised $28,215.00
Brian Kelly has raised $28,140.00
Clement Astruc has raised $26,351.00
Mark Pownall has raised $25,830.00
Mike Young has raised $25,565.00
Bob Bollen has raised $18,575.00