Birmingham’s commercial property professionals have raised more than £46,000 for charity at an annual spoof award event organised by Property for Kids – the biggest single amount raised in the event’s 15-year history.
The BRENDAs brought together a sold out audience of 380 influential people from Birmingham’s property sector to raise funds for disadvantaged young people across the West Midlands.
Staged at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, the annual lunchtime fundraiser and networking event saw a series of tongue-in-cheek awards presented to some of the industry’s most talented vocalists.
This year’s theme was based on James Corden’s carpool karaoke, in which participants courted the mockery of their peers by volunteering to be filmed singing to popular hits by the likes of Vanilla Ice, Queen, Neil Diamond and Dire Straits, whilst being driven around Birmingham by Ed Gamble of ACRE Capital Real Estate.
Chairman of Property for Kids, Jilly Cosgrove, said:
“The BRENDAs is one of the most anticipated and well supported events in Birmingham and raises much needed funds for fantastic charities across the region. There are a great many organisations that strive hard to help children with physical or mental difficulties or who simply have had few opportunities in their lives and Property for Kids is hugely proud to support them. If ever there was a community that worked together for the betterment of others, then the property industry in Birmingham is up there with the best.”
Property for Kids has distributed hundreds of thousands of pounds to 48 different children’s charities since its inception in the 1980s. It has raised more than £250,000 through the BRENDAs, supporting local good causes with the provision of useful assets including a safe playground, a minibus and specialist equipment.
The BRENDAs 2019 was sponsored by CoStar. Individual awards were sponsored by Anstey Horne, Meinhardt, Speller Metcalfe, Nolan Associates, Sylter, Benniman Construction Group, Overbury, Shoosmiths and Estilo Interiors.
Winners included: Richard Sidaway, of Lambert Smith Hampton; Fleetmilne; Emma Atkins, of Pulse Consult; Lydia Ellis, of Avison Young; Hannah Floyd, of Sylter; David Smeeton, of Cushman & Wakefield; Tim Blairs, of Altringham Developments; Alison Hill and Ruth Philips, of Shakespeare Martineau; Martin Guest, of CBRE; and Melanie Booth, of Kier Property.
The event was hosted by Jilly Cosgrove, of Barques Design; Lucy Hansell, of Estilo Interiors; Rupert Young, of Nurton Developments; and Simon Marks, of Arcadis.