New York City FC Chief Business Officer Tim Pernetti plans to sleep on the streets of New York City on Thursday night as part of an annual nationwide event to support the Covenant House.
Pernetti -- along with more than 750 of the nation's top business, sports and entertainment executives -- will participate in the "Sleep Out" movement that aims to raise awareness for homeless children.
Though it is a nationwide event, the New York City portion will begin with a candlelight vigil in Times Square at 6 p.m. ET. The vigil, to be held at the 43rd-44th Street and Broadway pedestrian plaza, will also feature performances by Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Capathia Jenkins.
New York City FC won't be the only New York City sports team lending its support on Thursday. Brian Cashman, general manager of New York City FC's partner the New York Yankees, also plans to participate in the event, alongside Pernetti.
"Nov. 20 will be a night when Tim, Brian, and people who care about kids all across the country will raise candles of hope during a national candlelight vigil, and then sleep on the streets in solidarity with homeless kids," said Kevin Ryan, Covenant House president. "No one is saying sleeping out for one night is comparable to what homeless kids go through. But our vigil and our 'Sleep Out' will raise awareness and funds needed to save the lives of kids who are right now living and dying on our streets. It will be a powerful night of hope for our kids."
Covenant House holds a number of "Sleep Out" events each year, with varying participant groups. Among the other groups for which the organization stages these events are Broadway personnel, mothers, young professionals and students.
As for Thursday's event, some of the other known executives who will be sleeping out are Michael Chernow and Daniel Holzman, owners of The Meatball Shop restaurants; Gail Grimmett, Delta Airlines senior vice president; and employees from the leading luxury home builder, Toll Brothers, who will have sleep out teams in Atlantic City, N.J., New York, Orlando, Fla., and Philadelphia.
"We're honored to have Tim, Brian and all of these selfless sports and business leaders sleeping out as a unified, powerful voice for our kids at Covenant House," Ryan said. "All of these leaders are selflessly using their amazing gifts to bring hope to the 1,900 kids who are in our shelters each night."
