Why I Sleep Out for Covenant House
3 Minute Read · 5 Minute Listen
When you meet me now, you see a career at Cisco, a title, a life that looks like it worked out. What you do not see is the teenager I used to be.
At sixteen, I was working long hours to keep a roof over my head and going to school at night. That experience is part of my story, but it was never the whole story. I had dreams. I had potential. I had a future worth fighting for, even when my circumstances made that future hard to imagine.
That is what I wish more people understood about young people experiencing homelessness. They are not defined by where they sleep. They are funny, creative, determined kids who want what we all want: To feel safe, to belong, to be loved, and to build a meaningful life.
They do not need us to decide who they are based on what they are going through. They need us to believe in who they can become. Sometimes, all it takes is one person who believes in you.
When I think about my own journey, I know what it feels like to need a second chance, a helping hand, and someone to see the person you are beyond your circumstances.
That is why Covenant House means so much to me. More than a safe place to sleep, it offers stability, guidance, education, and adults who care and believe in young people's potential.
Why I sleep out
Every year, Cisco employees come together to support Covenant House through Sleep Out, giving up the comfort of our beds for one night to raise awareness and funds. For me, it is deeply personal. When I sleep outside, I am reminded of the uncertainty of not having a safe home. I also know that when morning comes, I can go back inside and take a warm shower. For the youth we support, that certainty is not always there.
I have served on the board of Covenant House Pennsylvania and helped lead Cisco's Sleep Out efforts. At last year’s Pennsylvania Sleep Out, the Cisco team raised $95,000, contributing to the overall $1 million raised for Covenant House by Cisco in 2026. Our total impact since partnering with Covenant House in 2014 has reached over $18 million.
What moves me most is not the dollar amount. It is what those dollars make possible. A safe bed. A caring adult. A chance to keep going in school. A path toward independence. A young person starting to believe that tomorrow might look different.
You do not have to change someone's entire world. You just have to help open a door.
How you can be part of it
Anyone can be part of this mission. Join a Cisco Sleep Out team. Make a matched donation. Invite your colleagues. Spread the word about the cause and invite friends and family to donate.
Consider hosting a Sleep Out at home with your own family. Spend an evening talking about what it means to have a safe place to sleep. You can turn one night into a family experience while raising money that helps young people get the support they deserve.
I know what it is like to be that teenager. When I look at the youth Covenant House serves, I do not just see the challenges. I see potential: Future colleagues, leaders, parents, and people who will change their communities and the world.
I cannot say exactly where I would be if my life had unfolded differently. But I know how much a little stability, a helping hand, and someone believing in you can mean when you are young and trying to find your way.
Maybe that somebody can be you.
Employee resources
Related links
Related Content
