Over 100 agents slept rough on Bondi Beach on Monday night and helped raise over $133,000 for charity. 

Damien Cooley, Director of Cooley Auctions and REINSW board member, organised the Real Estate Sleep Out event to help raise funds and awareness for Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets.

Cooley said, “It was an incredible night and we had an amazing bunch of people that congregated at North Bondi Beach who were in great spirits even when it was spitting with rain.”

Youth Off The Streets cares for young people aged 12-22 who are homeless, abused, suffering from addiction or in general need of help. Cooley sits on the Development Committee, and said, the sleep out is "a way for the industry to come together in a powerful act of support."

Cooley said he believes there are parallels between the homelessness program and the work of real estate agents.

“I believe that the property industry has so much to give Youth Off The Streets," he said, "and that there is a synergy between what we do and the values of Youth Off The Streets. My vision is that with industry support we can eventually reach a point where we have 1,000 friends of the property industry sleeping on Bondi Beach and raising over $1 million.”

At 6.30pm on Monday 22 August, 104 people were gathered at Bondi beach. The Youth Off The Streets food van served food. The overnight sleepers used cardboard boxes donated by Storage King Eastgardens. In the morning, Father Chris Riley thanked those who had slept overnight, and Cooley presented him with a cheque.

Donations will continue to be accepted until 30 August.

Savills were the biggest fundraisers. “This year Savills were our number one support team who raised the most money which was fantastic and it would be great to see more get involved next year,” concluded Cooley.

To donate click here.

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