On Thursday, Nov. 17, Joseph Richard Group CEO Ryan Moreno and director of culinary operations Matthew Stowe joined 46 Lower Mainland executives by spending the night sleeping on the streets of Vancouver so homeless youth won’t have to.
The local JRG executives, who hails from Langley, took part in the Covenant House Sleep Out 2016 – Executive Edition, an event that aims to raise $750,000 to support Covenant House Vancouver’s Crisis Program, which provides 30 beds for males and 24 beds for females.
“We are extremely excited and honoured to be a part of this year’s Sleep Out for Covenant House in Vancouver,” said Moreno. “Having grown up in the Lower Mainland, and with our company being based here, our community is extremely important to us. Our goal is to be active community members and assist wherever we can.
“While we’ll be sleeping out for just one night, we know that many youth face many more cold, lonely nights until they find their way through the doors of Covenant House Vancouver.”
Each year Covenant House Vancouver provides shelter, food, clothing and counseling to 1,400 young people through its Daily Drop-In, street outreach, and residential programs. Because Covenant House is 94 per cent privately funded, the Sleep Out is vital both from a fundraising and awareness building perspective.
Moreno and Stowe slept on a piece of cardboard and used a sleeping bag. They interact with some of the youth currently staying at Covenant House and other who have stayed there in the past.
For Stowe and Moreno, their fundraising goal was $13,500. They have raised $37,526. While that is more than double their goal, the Covenant House could use all the help it can get.
To support Matt or Ryan, visit their donation page at support.covenanthousebc.org.
Any bidder who donates $1,000 or more through their page will receive a dinner for up to six guests at one of JRG’s S+L Kitchen & Bar locations (Abbotsford, Langley or South Surrey) hosted by Chef Matthew Stowe.
