Last weekend, our local real estate community came together for something far bigger than closing deals — they threw down in the ultimate “Battle of the Realtors” fundraiser, and let me tell you, it was electric.
When the dust settled and the final dollar was counted, the Coldwell Banker team — Mike Lafferty, Vance Brinkerhoff, Brian Leonard, and Nancy Marquez — stood victorious, raising the most money and earning serious bragging rights for the year. But the real winners? The homeless kids in our community who will now have birthdays worth celebrating, thanks to Little Birthday Angels.
How It All Began: One Little Girl Named Destinee
The story of Little Birthday Angels starts back in August 2014 with a moment that could break anyone’s heart.
Brian and Angel Pietsch and their two sons, Hunter and Seth, learned that a local shelter didn’t have the extra funds to celebrate a young girl named Destinee’s birthday. No cake. No presents. No “Happy Birthday” song. Just another day.
Most people would feel sad for a moment and move on. The Pietsch family? They decided to do something about it.
That single act of kindness sparked an entire movement. With the help of countless volunteers and generous supporters, Little Birthday Angels was born — an organization dedicated to making sure no homeless child in our community ever has to wonder if anyone remembers their special day.
One Birthday Bag of Hope at a Time
The heart of Little Birthday Angels is their School Program and the now-famous Birthday Bags of Hope.
Every month, volunteers pack and deliver these bags filled with cake mix, frosting, candles, balloons, gifts, and everything a child needs to feel truly celebrated. They’re dropped off at schools and shelters so that even if a child is experiencing homelessness, they still get to blow out candles and hear their name sung on their birthday.
They call them “Bags of Hope” for a reason. Because when you’re a kid living in uncertainty, having someone remember your day — and show up with love wrapped in a gift bag — plants a seed of hope that things can and will get better.
As the organization beautifully puts it:
“Every homeless child deserves to feel special on ‘their’ day. ‘Their’ day is a gift from God that deserves to be celebrated.”
When Realtors Go All In
This year’s Battle of the Realtors fundraiser was next-level competitive (in the best way). Teams from different brokerages went head-to-head, rallying clients, friends, and colleagues to donate. Social media was flooded with challenge videos, donation thermometers, and good-natured trash talk.
But beneath the rivalry was a shared mission: making sure Little Birthday Angels could keep delivering joy, one birthday at a time.
And deliver they will — thanks to Coldwell Banker’s winning team of Mike Lafferty, Vance Brinkerhoff, Brian Leonard, and Nancy Marquez. These four didn’t just win a trophy; they helped fund dozens (maybe hundreds) of birthdays for kids who need it most.
Want to Help Keep the Party Going?
Little Birthday Angels relies 100% on donations and volunteers. Whether it’s $10 to sponsor part of a bag or your time to help pack them, every bit helps.
You can learn more and donate at
littlebirthdayangels.org (or search “Little Birthday Angels” + your city if there’s a chapter near you).
Because no child should ever have to spend their birthday feeling forgotten.
Huge congratulations again to Mike, Vance, Brian, and Nancy — your win is going to light up a lot of little faces this year.
Here’s to more battles, more birthdays, and way more birthday cake
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Written by Ben Bryk Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Vero Beach
