Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Premier Properties & The Sunshine Kids Foundation
Fargo-Moorhead, philanthropy often looks like neighbors showing up for one another. For Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Premier Properties, that commitment is seen through their long-standing support of The Sunshine Kids Foundation, which is a national nonprofit dedicated to children battling cancer.
The Sunshine Kids Foundation was established in 1982 with a mission to offer comfort, stability, and moments of happiness to children whose lives have been interrupted by cancer treatment. Since 2008, the BHHS Premier Properties office in Fargo has embraced that mission wholeheartedly by raising more than $755,000 to support this amazing cause. What makes The Sunshine Kids program unique is how tangible the impact is. Funds raised locally stay local. Children from our North Dakota and Minnesota region are given the opportunity to attend week-long, allexpenses-paid trips with other kids who are going through similar medical journeys. These trips— whether to Orlando, New York City, Colorado, or New Orleans—are carefully planned and fully supported by licensed medical professionals, including traveling nurses who manage medications and treatment protocols along the way.
“It’s not about escaping reality,” Marketing Director Cassie Edwards, who helps coordinate fundraising efforts, said. “It’s about giving these kids a chance to just be kids.”
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Each trip costs roughly $10,000 per child after accounting for medical staffing, supplies, travel, lodging, and activities. Children typically attend once, though in rare cases— depending on diagnosis and treatment cycles—some may attend more than once. Participation is always based on a child’s health and ability to travel safely.
For many families, the experience is transformative. There are no parents on the trips, a decision that may seem daunting at first, but often becomes a source of empowerment for the children. They build independence, confidence, and friendships with peers who truly understand what it means to live with cancer.
Maureen Bartelt, Broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Premier Properties, has witnessed these relationships grow over the years. “We’ve watched kids go from little boys to young men,” she said. “They stay connected long after the trips are over. Those bonds are lifelong.”
