A Brief History

Steve Leonard founded Brokers for Battered Kids twelve years ago. Steve was new to Denver and had just purchased a number of investment properties in a down market, thus drawing the attention of the real estate community. Steve, a member of the Denver Active 20-30 Children's Foundation, held the inaugural event in his back yard and raised a little over $10,000 for children's charities based in Denver. The event has grown dramatically over the years and in 2002, with the help of the McCormick Foundation, the Denver event raised over $350,000 for Denver's children in need.

In 1999, the Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club, never averse to copying a good idea, approached Tom Roberts, President and CEO of Opus West Corporation, and asked for his assistance in starting Brokers for Kids in Arizona. A few calls later and Leo The Delicatessen, Ryan Companies, The Business Journal and Johnson Capital Partners had signed on as the Founding Sponsors. This was a very large first step, as the Founding Sponsors agreed to underwrite the expense of the event. With their help, CB Richard Ellis, Grubb & Ellis, Inverness and NAI Horizon rounded out the field as the eight teams to compete in the first Brokers for Kids in October of 1999.

In 2000, Brokers for Kids hosted 24 teams that were comprised of all of the top real estate players in the Valley. Together with the gracious help of Leo The Delicatessen, we hosted over 300 members of the real estate community and their families for a day at the park. We all watched and cheered as CB Richard Ellis won the Olympiad competition. When the event ended, The Rubin Companies won the coveted Brokers Cup, recognizing the team that raised the most money for the event. The 2000 event raised over $120,000 for local children's charities.

Looking to improve the events fundraising potential, Brokers for Kids underwent some significant changes in 2004. The event was moved from Indian School Park to the Beach Park at Tempe Towne Lake, giving the event a more prominent venue for the Olympiad. The date of the event was changed as well from it traditional October date to February, better positioning on fundraising calendars. The changes paid off with fundraising exceeding $200,000 with Suncor winning the Brokers Cup with over $20,000 in fundraising. 2007 was an historic year for Brokers for Kids as the 25 competing teams raised approximately $375,000. In 2008 the event increased to 32 teams and raised $340,000.

The primary beneficiary of Brokers for Kids is Boys Hope Girls Hope, an organization that provides scholarships to underprivileged kids in both community based and residency based programs, ensuring a good education and a start towards a college education. A percentage of the fundraising is donated to charity of choice of the Brokers Cup winner.

Brokers for Kids is broken into two segments: a year-long fundraising competition and a one-day Olympiad competition. The fundraising competition involves the teams raising money throughout the year from its clients, customers, employees and other sources. The team that raises the most money takes home the Broker's Cup. Currently, the Olympiad competition is held at in the Amphitheatre area of Tempe Town Lake. Each team/company fields a team of eight men and women that compete in various events, including volleyball, bocci ball, baggo and football toss.

Brokers for Kids

Past Champions