(Re)Insurance Industry Sleeps Out in Solidarity With Youth Overcoming Homelessness
On September 25th, over 100 members of the ( Re)insurance industry are transforming their homes, apartments, and backyards into places of hope for youth overcoming homelessness at Covenant House.
Due to COVID-19, the annual Covenant House (Re)insurance Sleep Out will be a virtual event with participants sleeping out at home rather than the street outside Covenant House.
“The most important aspect of the Sleep Out is raising funds and awareness for the amazing young people at Covenant House, and this virtual Sleep Out will do that,” said Julie Hassan, team captain of Markel Insurance. “This is the sixth year Markel has joined this event. I will miss not meeting the young people at Covenant House in person, but I know they will be part of the program and that I’ll be inspired by their stories. And the virtual Sleep Out opens up the experience to more of my colleagues, including some from our London office who will be participating.”
Julie said that interacting with the young people overcoming homelessness is what makes the Sleep Out a life-changing event. “Covenant House is a special place, and the young people at Covenant House are amazing. They are smart, and so resilient. After my first Sleep Out I was inspired to get more involved and I am now on the board of the Dove Learning Center, a program young people can get help with resumes, finding employment and other life skills. There are so many ways to get involved with Covenant House and the rewards are so great.”
Julie will be sleeping out in her backyard, and will be joined by her 13-year-old son. “This year will be different, but it will be powerful as always,” said Julie.
Joseph Vitalo is a member of team Aon, and will be sleeping out for the second time. “Our team leader Amanda Nguyen recruited me, and I’m so glad she did. I think the team approach is very beneficial as it not only raises money, but it also brings us closer as colleagues. And, I’m not going to lie, it also helps spur some good old competition for a great cause!”
Joseph vividly recalls how he felt after his first Sleep Out experience last year. “I had a sense of overwhelming gratitude and accomplishment. Writing a check is easy and what I’ve always done in the past, but waking up tired, cold, hungry, and having back pain really drove home how important the work of Covenant House is. One night on the street is nothing compared to what the young people of Covenant House have gone through, but it does change you. The young people at Covenant House are amazing, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to meet them, even if it will be virtually this year.”
Sponsors for Sleep Out: (Re) Insurance Edition include Platinum Sponsor, Markel, whose team has raised over $75,000. Silver Sponsors are Aon, Ascot, bms, Odyssey Group Foundation, Axis, and Munich Re. Bronze Sponsors include Swiss Re, SCOR, Everest, Arch Re, Third Point Re, GND Resources LLC, RAA, and Renaissance Re. Validus Re is a Supporting Sponsor.
For more information on the Covenant House Sleep Our: (Re) Insurance Edition, go to https://www.covenanthouse.org/sleepout.
