(Re)Insurance Sleep Out raises over $490k for homeless youth
Teams from nearly two dozen insurance companies participated in Covenant House's 5th annual (Re)Insurance Sleep Out.
On Friday, September 13th, 121 insurance professionals hailing from 21 teams spent the night sleeping on the streets of NYC for Covenant House’s 5th Annual (Re)Insurance Industry Sleep Out. This year saw the largest participation in the history of the event, which raised over $490,000 and counting for Covenant House to support homeless youth.
The top three fundraising teams were BMS, Aon and Markel Global Reinsurance.
Since the start of this event in 2015, participants from within the insurance industry have helped raise over $2.3 million for Covenant House through the (Re)Insurance Sleep Out.
What $490k will do for homeless youth
Covenant House representatives say the nearly half a million dollars raised by participants in the (Re)Insurance Sleep Out will be put to work immediately, providing housing, food, clothing and linens as well as supportive services such as educational opportunities, job readiness and placement, medical and mental health counseling, legal aid and life skills development.
Additionally, the funds will further allow Covenant House to offer its youth a full breadth of social and recreational experiences including art and fitness programs and field trips.
“Our goal is to help young people overcoming homelessness transform their lives and put them on a path to independence,” said Pam Sandonato, SVP, marketing & growth at Covenant House. “All participants in the Sleep Out movement are not just raising funds and awareness — they’re showing young people that a community of individuals is committed to their future.”
Lessons and reflections
Organizers say the annual Sleep Out is an educational event with a social twist. While there are some aspects of the program that are somber and contemplative, the overall feeling is enthusiastic and hopeful, Sandonato said.
Those who shared reflections in the morning said they now better understand the hardships faced by individuals living on our streets and many participants chose to take Covenant House outreach cards that they give to young people in need of help and hope.
“I never fail to be inspired by these young people who come from incredibly adverse conditions and are able to rise out of their circumstances and attain success through the programs offered by Covenant House,” said three-time participant Lynn Halper.
This year marked the fifth Sleep Out for Arch Re team member Brian Norris.
“Each year I walk away with something new the following morning. A new story of a young homeless person who was able to overcome the odds due to the programs at Covenant House. New knowledge of the homeless youth situation, from situations that lead to young people becoming homeless, to issues they are immediately exposed to being homeless, such as trafficking,” Norris said.
“I also walk away with a bigger heart every time for two reasons: 1. The positive people who work at Covenant House and care so much for these young people, and absolutely love what they do, and 2. These young people who came to Covenant House homeless, under the darkest clouds of life, and yet they have the most positive attitudes and brightest of outlooks on life. It is quite humbling, to say the least, and it is an amazing experience for which I am most thankful, and why I continue to participate every year.”
The 6th Annual (Re)Insurance Sleep Out will take place in New York City in September 2020. Email sleepout@covenanthouse.org to get connected.
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