Vinnies CEO Sleepout Charity Dinner 2026

Community Leadership, Fundraising and Network Activation

The Vinnies CEO Sleepout Charity Dinner 2026 was conceived, developed and delivered as a purpose-led initiative supporting the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society and raising funds for people experiencing homelessness.

The project brought together professional sport, business, hospitality and community networks around a shared social purpose. The event created a platform for fundraising, awareness, storytelling and meaningful engagement while demonstrating the power of strategic relationship-building and executive initiative.

Project Overview

The event was designed as a premium charity dinner aligned with the Vinnies CEO Sleepout campaign. It combined fundraising, guest engagement, sport and community storytelling, hospitality partnerships, auction activity and high-profile international rugby support.

Key Outcomes
Raised $4,605
Exceeded the $4,000 fundraising target
Achieved 115% of the fundraising goal
Delivered a sold-out charity dinner
Secured international messages of support from leading rugby figures
Activated relationships across sport, business, hospitality and community networks
Created a platform for future annual fundraising initiatives
My Role

As founder and event lead, I was responsible for the concept development, stakeholder engagement and delivery of the initiative.

This included:

Developing the event concept and charitable purpose
Coordinating the dinner format and guest experience
Activating support across professional sport and the international rugby community
Managing partnerships, venue coordination and event flow
Driving communications, promotion and guest engagement
Supporting fundraising outcomes through the wider campaign
Securing recorded messages and live participation from prominent rugby figures
International Rugby Support and Executive Reach

The initiative received personal support from internationally recognised rugby captains, Rugby World Cup winners, Hall of Fame inductees, elite athletes and broadcasters.

Their involvement strengthened the credibility and visibility of the project and demonstrated my ability to activate senior relationships across international sport, business, media and community networks.

John Eales AM, Wallaby #694
Former Wallabies captain, 86-Test international, two-time Rugby World Cup winner and Wallaby Hall of Fame inductee.
Sir Jonny Wilkinson CBE
England Rugby World Cup winner, 91-Test international and World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee.
Michael Hooper, Wallaby #859
Former Wallabies captain and 125-Test international.
Matt Giteau, Wallaby #780
103-Test Wallaby, Rugby World Cup finalist and John Eales Medal recipient.
Tim Horan AM, Wallaby #680
80-Test Wallaby, two-time Rugby World Cup winner and Wallaby Hall of Fame inductee.
Andrew Mehrtens, All Black #944
70-Test All Black, 967 Test points and a multiple Super Rugby champion with the Crusaders.
Jeremy Paul, Wallaby #744
72-Test Wallaby, 1999 Rugby World Cup winner and international rugby broadcaster.
Curtis Rona, Wallaby #912
Wallaby and dual-code professional athlete who attended the event as special guest.
Dr Tom Robertson, Wallaby #898
Wallaby prop, professional rugby player and qualified medical doctor.
Gordon Bray AM
International rugby commentator and broadcaster widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading rugby voices.
Messages of Support

Personal messages of support were secured from internationally recognised Wallabies, All Blacks, an England Rugby World Cup winner and leading rugby broadcasters.

Their involvement elevated the event’s credibility, strengthened its international reach and connected the cause with a wider sporting and community audience.

Links

Vinnies Campaign
https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/damianwainohu

Messages of Support Video
https://youtu.be/Dw9NX0GnrkA

Project Impact

This project reflects my ability to create an idea, build support around it, activate strategic relationships and deliver a visible outcome with genuine community impact.