PENRITH Panthers great and Western Sydney icon Mark Geyer OAM has officially signed to be the first Ambassador for Link Wentworth’s flagship fundraising sleepout, Home Sweet, being held in Penrith on Friday 7 August 2026.

The football legend is helping raise awareness for the fundraiser that will see more than 80 ‘sleepees’ spend the night at the Sydney International Regatta Centre.

Link Wentworth CEO Andrew McAnulty said Geyer was one of Penrith’s favourite sons and it was an honour to have him as an ambassador.

“He’s a Penrith legend who genuinely cares about community and you can see that in his decision to support the Home Sweet fundraising sleepout.”

Mr McAnulty said it was the second year Home Sweet was being held at the International Regatta Centre in Penrith.

“Last year Home Sweet raised a record $325,966 and this year we are out to set a new record so we can help as many people as we can who are experiencing homelessness or housing stress,” Mr McAnulty said.

Money raised this year will support services and programs such as aboriginal community housing provider, Birribee Housing, and the Link Wentworth’s Scholarship Program that helps people living in social, affordable and transitional housing with the costs of education, training and personal development.

For the second year running, this year’s Home Sweet will also provide funding for Platform Youth Services which is the leading specialist homelessness service for young people across Penrith.

“We are seeing too many people being forced to make impossible decisions between covering everyday expenses and keeping a roof over their head. Home Sweet is one way we can raise awareness and provide practical support to people in need,” Mr McAnulty said.

Link Wentworth provides nearly 6,400 social and affordable homes for more than 10,000 vulnerable Australians across Greater Sydney, with many tenants living in Penrith.

Mr McAnulty said additional support couldn’t come at a more important time, with rising cost of living pressures and a housing crisis.

“Home Sweet has always been about community looking after community, and having a great like Geyer with us this year makes that even more heartfelt,” he said.

The public can donate to Home Sweet at https://home-sweet.linkwentworth.org.au/donate.