Covenant House Wins Organization of the Year

“Homelessness for most is a circumstance, not a condition, and for Covenant House youth, it’s often the least interesting thing about them,” shared Libby Cantrill, managing director and the head of public policy for PIMCO and five-time Sleep Out participant.  

“Many of the kids are extraordinarily talented — they are singers, artists, dancers, athletes, students, and more, and the incredible staff at Covenant House works hard to provide programming that helps nurture and expand each youth’s unique strengths and interests. Shelter is obviously essential, but really seeing the youth for all they have to offer is special and distinguishes Covenant House,” Libby added. 

Last week when Covenant House was awarded Organization of the Year at the P2P Professional Forum in recognition of the impact of the Sleep Out movement, we had the opportunity to reflect on why and how Sleep Out stands out in a fundraising space that is dominated by walks and rides. The majority of Sleep Out participants have no innate personal connection to the issue, so what is it about this experience that is so meaningful? Libby’s quote sums it up perfectly: The Sleep Out has never just been about sleeping outside for one night; it is about seeing our youth for who they are, and what they can become. That stays with you for a lifetime.   

Sixty-five Thousand Participants, $170 Million Raised 

Every year, thousands of dedicated supporters and passionate advocates give up their beds for one night to ensure that youth facing homelessness have a bed at Covenant House. Since 2011, more than 65,000 individuals, families, companies, students, and sports teams, have taken on that challenge and raised over $170 million to care for youth at Covenant House, shining a light on the often-overlooked youth homelessness crisis. The average returning participant has slept out four times, and some people participate multiple times a year, and in multiple locations.   

Just last year, Rebecca Ebert, KBRA's global head of regulatory and government affairs, took her advocacy to the next level by participating in two Sleep Out events in one season. At the first, held in Mexico City in late October, she shared, "The work we do here is not just to help kids, but also to try to prevent more kids from needing our help." Rebecca’s second Sleep Out was with her company in New York City, where she served as a panelist in a breakout session about our work in Latin America.

While each Sleep Out has its own flavor, a majority of the planned elements are similar: Welcome and identification of the issue, introduction to young people with lived experience (either in-person or through videos), a celebration of the community’s efforts, an overview of how the money raised helps, one night outside on the pavement, and morning reflections.  

Whether the Sleep Out is at a Covenant House site, a home, a school, or a stadium, event organizers produce experiences with low overhead costs. It means a lot to our Sleepers to know that all funds raised in the states and countries where we work go directly to the local Covenant House site.   

When a new champion registers for the Sleep Out, a team of coaches wraps them with love, appreciation, and support the same way youth who arrive at Covenant House are embraced. Sleep Out attracts “doers,” people who show up for others in their communities and push for the changes they want to see. Every Sleeper matters to us, and their experience is designed to be transformational, not transactional, which is the same covenant we make with our residents at Covenant House.  

John Foley, first-time Sleep Out participant in Philadelphia at the Phillies Sleep Out at the Ballpark, reflected on his experience, and it was a great reminder that even after 15 years of growing this movement, we are still connecting with a broad swath of people who care.  

Sleep Out Invites Solidarity with Youth Navigating Homelessness  

John was moved by what he heard during a group presentation that included Covenant House staff members and former residents. “One young woman talked about arriving at the Cov as a teenager, with a child in her arms and another on the way. She’s now a successful young professional in a position to help others. Two other alumni who spoke currently sit on the Covenant House Pennsylvania board of directors. They fought back tears as they told their stories. I did the same as I listened.” 

He added, “I wondered if I would have walked right past these incredible individuals if I saw them sleeping on the street. Probably yes, I admitted to myself. Sometimes without even noticing them.”  

Bill Bedrossian, president and CEO of Covenant House International and a 12-time Sleep Out participant, summerizes it best. “Sleep Out is a movement that invites community members to be in solidarity with the millions of young people who are navigating homelessness, exploitation, and injustice every single day. We are reminding them that they are not alone,” he said.  

It is our hope that our Organization of the Year recognition will give rise to more curiosity in more people about the youth homelessness crisis, and that we’ll see an even larger increase in participation and funds raised for our mission this year.  

Here are three ways you can get involved with Sleep Out.  

• Find an upcoming Sleep Out near you.
• Start a Sleep Out: If you don’t see a Sleep Out in your community, create your own — and call on your family, friends, and community to join you.
• Donate: If you’re unable to attend a Sleep Out, consider supporting young people facing homelessness in your community.