Lilydale students learnt a lesson in compassion and empathy from a CEO.
Vinnies CEO Sleepout ambassador Chris Christofi spoke at Mount Lilydale Mercy College (MLMC) on Tuesday 28 May.
He shared his life journey and encouraged Year 12 students to be part of the college’s own winter sleepout on Thursday 20 June, to raise money for Vinnies.
The college has been involved with the Vinnies Sleepout initiative for more than a decade, with a group of students sleeping out in the quad area each year.
The school said that experiencing the cold and discomfort of homelessness was a powerful way for them to learn empathy and compassion for those less fortunate.
Mr Christofi said he wasn’t a great student and his grades were so bad he couldn’t get into university.
He still managed to buy his first house at age 19 and was a multi-millionaire by age 23, but he lost it all.
At age 25 he was $348,000 in debt and moved back in with his parents.
His son had recently lost his hearing as the result of meningitis and Mr Christofi was close to giving up, but he clawed his way back.
He founded property investment and wealth advisory firm Reventon and has again found success.
“I love making mistakes because I learn,” Mr Christofi said.
He said the number one thing he wanted to instil in his own four children was to “be a good human”.
He understands the desire to make money but told students that “doing it the right way is the most important thing”.
“I don’t care about making money, I care about helping people,” he said.
Mr Christofi has committed to raising $60,000 in donations for the Vinnies CEO Sleepout this year.
“I want to make a difference, make an impact,” he said.
He raised $40,185 last year in his first year of taking part, the third highest total in Victoria.
The college will donate the funds its raises through its sleepout to Mr Christofi’s fund-raising campaign.
Deputy principal Elizabeth Keogh said he was “an inspiring leader, successful and ethical”.
“We want the students to learn that they don’t have to make a choice about being either successful and wealthy or compassionate and giving,” she said.
“They can do both.”
Homelessness in Australia has risen 14 per cent in the past five years, with more than 116,000 people living without a permanent home across Australia.
“It can be tempting to ignore the severe impacts of homelessness as we go about our daily lives, but it is essential that we never succumb to the error of believing that homelessness is just an outcome or something that’s deserved,” Mr Christofi said.
“In the end, we’re all human beings and subject to circumstances beyond our control.
“It is my personal mission to do everything I can to help.”
