NEW YORK CITY—Over 100 top local real estate executives are set to sleep outside in Times Square Thursday night to help draw attention to the plight of homeless teens and help them find a way off the street.
The “Real Estate Executive Sleep Out,” organized by a committee of real estate professionals is a first-time fundraising event here that will bring together those committed to spending one night on the streets to support programs for homeless youth in New York. The event—which already has raised $202,838—was created in conjunction with Covenant House, a not-for-profit organization that works to improve the lives of homeless teens.
“We decided to form our own spin-off from national “Sleep Outs” held by Covenant House that represent other industries,” says Matt Schmeelk, senior EVP at Kensington Vanguard National Land Services, who is the co-chairman of the “Sleep Out” Committee, along with Arvind Chary, managing principal at Atlas Real Estate Partners.
The “Real Estate Executive Sleep Out” Committee includes executives from the Witkoff Group; RREEF Transactions; Lone Star Funds; Madison Development; Mission Capital; UBS Real Estate; Thor Equities; Cassidy Turley; Convene and TOWN.
“The NYC real business is a cutthroat industry that requires a 24/7 commitment,” notes Brett Mufson, managing director, the Witkoff Group. “It's important we take a step back and raise awareness about homeless kids and the perils they face in the same city we, as real estate professionals aim to improve on a daily basis.”
Adds Matthew Dicker, CFO, Madison Development, “At its core, real estate is about constantly improving our communities and the lives of all people who live there. Our hope in participating in this event is to raise awareness for Covenant House's cause and let the homeless youth in our city know that we are here to help them get a second chance.”
Representatives of the following companies also are expected to participate: Kushner Companies, Hines, Kensington Vanguard National Land Services, Lone Star Funds, Related Companies, East End Capital Madison Development, CIM Group, The Blackstone Group, DHA Capital, Synapse Capital, UBS Real Estate, Virgin Hotels, Angelo, Gordon & Co., Convene, Westbrook Partners, Thor Equities, DDG Beacon Capital Partners, World Class Capital, Northwood Investors, Mission Capital, Belvedere Capital, Forest City Ratner Companies, Colony Capital, Alto Investments, Marcus & Millichap, Rialto Capital, 60 Guilders, LLC, Bank of America, TOWN, Excelsior Equities and Taconic Investment Partners.
Property Markets Group, Morgan Creek Capital Management, Walker & Dunlop, Spear Street Capital, Silverpeak Real Estate Partners, Sierra Real Estate, Brookfield Real Estate Financial Partners, Skyview Capital, Escape, Rackson, Hudson Advisors, Sumaida + Khurana, Vesper Holdings, Park 7 Group, Rockport Equity, Rockwood Capital, Marsh, Phasa Development, LLC, Ladder Capital, Rambleside Holdings, Vornado Realty Trust, Silverpeak Real Estate Finance, Eastdil Secured, Lee & Associates, The Square Foot, The Durst Organization, Investcorp International, Inc., Winter & Company Commercial Real Estate Finance, JMC Holdings, Kaplan Equities, DLG, Iron Hound Management, Paramount Group, Rialto Capital, Greenberg Traurig, Alpha Partners, Centaur Properties, Fir TreePartners, Rockwood Capital, Hudson Advisors, Northeast Equity, Legacy Builders and Crown
The Sleep Out will take place at Covenant House on Oct. 9th at 460 West 41st Street, on the corner of 10th Avenue and West 41st Street. The event starts at 7 pm inside where participants will meet and interact with young people helped by Covenant House before bedding down for the night outside at 11 pm in sleeping bags in the Covenant House's parking lot.
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
