Dentsu is participating in the Sheltersuit Sleep Out on 30 November. We talked to Thijs Verheugen about this wonderful initiative.

Explore the powerful connection between business and social responsibility in our Q&A with Thijs Verheugen, the OOH Director and Social Brand Activation theme owner at dentsu's Social Impact team. Discover the story behind the Sheltersuit Foundation Sleep Out and explore how dentsu Benelux is making a difference.

Before we talk about the event, could you talk a bit about your role at dentsu and your involvement in the Sheltersuit Sleep Out event?

Certainly! I am the OOH Director and Social Brand Activation theme owner of the Social Impact team. My role involves improving outdoor consultancy and services to deliver growth and good. I collaborate closely with dentsu specialists, clients, and the Out-of-Home (OOH) industry to identify and implement outdoor trends and opportunities. The Sleep Out is a social OOH partner event that I initiated. The collaboration with specialists and the opportunity to combine growth and social impact make my work incredibly satisfying.

Can you provide some details about the Sheltersuit Sleep Out event and its objectives, especially in addressing the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness??

The Sheltersuit Sleep Out is a fundraising event organized by the Sheltersuit Foundation . Participants, including ourselves, experience the harsh reality of homelessness by sleeping outside for one night.?No tents or roofs, just cold air. It's a life-changing experience. The event includes sharing personal stories from homeless individuals, and Bas Timmer explains the invention of Sheltersuit. The goal is to draw attention and raise funds to produce more Sheltersuits as much as possible, as we believe that: nobody deserves to sleep outside unprotected.?

A Sheltersuit is a portable, sustainable, water- and windproof jacket that transforms into a body suit by zipping it on a sleeping bag. With over 150 million people worldwide experiencing homelessness, Sheltersuit addresses this crisis by providing immediate shelter, warmth, protection, and dignity to those in need.?

What inspired dentsu to participate in the Sheltersuit Sleep Out event, and how does it align with the company's commitment to social responsibility??

The inspiration came from the increasing importance of real-life experiences in people's lives and the need for companies to contribute to society. We launched the ‘Out of Home supports people out of home’ initiative years ago, aiming to create social impact in public spaces on behalf of dentsu and the outdoor industry. Initially, this involved raising awareness and donations for the Sheltersuit Foundation through free outdoor campaigns. The Sleep Out event is an extension of this initiative, fostering meaningful connections between OOH business partners, clients, employees, and the NGO, aligning with our commitment to social responsibility.

What role does the dentsu team play in the Sleep Out event, and what goals does the company hope to achieve by participating?

The Sleep Out aims to bring the OOH industry, dentsu Benelux colleagues, and clients together to connect with the Sheltersuit Foundation and contribute to the homelessness problem. Through donations and a free national DOOH network, we aim to increase awareness during the winter. By meeting in a meaningful way, we can talk about how we can join hands to be a force for good, addressing societal issues together. I believe that the collaboration between commercial companies and institutions can pursue a good cause, it has the potential to create a significant positive impact on society.

This collaboration provides us with the chance to apply our creativity and expertise, not just for business growth, but also to contribute towards creating a better world. It begins with connecting with one another and, in this instance, sharing experiences that reshape our perspective on society. This, in turn, sparks conversations about the roles we can collectively play to bring positive change. Our dentsu team aims to fulfill this role as a connector more frequently, working with business partners to address various social issues in the future.

On Thursday, November 30, we will sleep one night in a Sheltersuit, outdoors under the stars. To make a statement. To understand a little better what it is like. To raise money and protect the homeless from the cold. The money raised goes directly to the Sheltersuit Foundation and is used for the production of Sheltersuits. These Sheltersuits are ultimately distributed to those who need them most. We also believe that no one should have to sleep outside in the cold. Do we make a statement together? Join us. Give warmth and support our campaign!

https://sleepout.sheltersuit.com/deelnemers/dentsu