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Two leaders of a major insurance company took part in a street selling campaign to raise awareness on homelessness and disadvantage in the community.
Sally Kincaid, chair of the QBE Foundation, and Phil White, CEO QBE LMI, were among some 100 business and government leaders who sold magazines on the streets, as part of The Big Issue's CEO Selling campaign held from February 6-10.
The CEO Selling initiative is part the International Vendors Week, which recognises the work of 10,000 people selling street papers in 35 countries around the world.
Through the initiative, The Big Issue, which is one of QBE's six charity partners for 2017, hopes to boost the vendors' profits to $100,000 for the edition coinciding with Vendor Week.
White, who sold magazines with Marcus at Park St in the Sydney CBD, said the experience of wearing his Big Issue vest and approaching members of the public was an “eye opener.”
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“It’s pretty confronting so I have a new appreciation for the hard graft these vendors put in to help themselves build a better life,” he said.
“We’re proud supporters of The Big Issue and this is a brilliant initiative, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to do my bit to help. I was also pretty relieved many of my QBE colleagues came by to purchase magazines.”
Kincaid, who joined David at Parramatta and was on her second time participating the campaign, said it reinforced the values of the QBE Foundation.
“Homelessness and disadvantage are key themes we look to address as part of our foundation values, so we really do feel there is a great alignment with The Big Issue,” she said.
“We’re thrilled to again be working with The Big Issue as a partner of the QBE Foundation in 2017. This was a timely initiative to kick off our partnership for the year and look forward to working with them on other initiatives throughout the year.”
The Big Issue CEO Steven Persson said: “Buying a copy of The Big Issue supports a vendor’s efforts to make positive changes in their life: it’s a hand up, not a hand out.”
“We hope selling The Big Issue alongside prominent business and government leaders will help vendors forge new connections in their community and encourage the public to support their local vendor.”
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