Montreal’s LDVA gala supports The Neuro and brain health research

Ignite Sounds of Hope, a gala benefiting The Neuro, is the ninth annual fundraising event hosted by Leonardo DaVinci Academy (LDVA).

The event aims to raise awareness about brain research and neurological health.

“We have 252 students, alumni, and staff participating and putting on a gala with Broadway musicals, theatrical performances, dancing, singing, a wonderful evening,” said Nadia Sammarco, principal of Leonardo DaVinci Academy.

Since 2016, the event has raised over $100,000 for The Neuro, and this year’s organizers are hopeful the fundraising momentum will continue.

The LDVA community is deeply committed to supporting brain research, and this year’s fundraiser aims to further assist with critical research and treatment.

Students have been preparing for the event for months, with weekly rehearsals and dedicated teamwork.

“We’ve been having rehearsals. We’ve actually prepared for this since the month of October, and we started rehearsing with them. We had quite a few rehearsals. I can’t even think of the amount, but they’ve been practicing almost on a weekly basis,” said Sabrina Gavita, Grade 6 French teacher at Leonardo DaVinci Academy.

The gala featured a range of performances, including Broadway-inspired acts, live music, dramatic scenes, and special guest appearances.

Grade 6 student Karina Messina took on a leadership role, helping younger students learn dance routines for the event.

“Basically, we’ve been starting from, I think, a few months ago, and we’ve just been learning dance moves. I’ve been helping the little ones if they didn’t understand, and I would pull them out of class and just help them learn the dance moves,” said Messina.

“I feel like the staff and teachers have helped us a lot with this, and I feel like, just to show support with the teachers, I wanted to do this to have fun and also to help the others,” she added.

The school gymnasium was completely transformed into a venue, with fairy lights and video walls creating a magical atmosphere for the evening.

“This is a major transformation. I think when families and friends enter, they’re going to forget they’re entering a school gymnasium. That, too, has been a huge undertaking,” said Sammarco.

The event also featured a raffle and a performance by the school choir, which offered a tribute to those affected by brain-related illnesses.

“We have a choir of students from grades three to five that dedicate their lunch hours every week, and they’re putting on a beautiful rendition of the song ‘Something Just Like This’ by The Chainsmokers. It’s going to blow everyone’s mind away. It’s fantastic,” said Sammarco.

For many, the event is not just a performance—it’s a cause that hits close to home.

Gavita shared the personal connection she feels with the cause, having lost her father to a glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor.

“For me, it’s a great way to keep my dad’s memory alive. I lost him a few years ago to a glioblastoma, a brain tumor. So, for me, it hits close to home. I just think it’s important to raise awareness, give people hope, and show our support to the community.”

Messina echoed the importance of raising awareness, noting how LDVA stands out in its commitment to supporting The Neuro.

“It’s important because not a lot of people do this, and we’re the only elementary school that has raised so much money, and we give this to the neurological hospital. So I feel like it’s just really important that we spread awareness about this,” said Messina.

Former LDVA students Justyn Rakowski and Milan Di Staulo served as masters of ceremony. Rakowski shared a personal story about how the Montreal Neuro made a difference.

“The Montreal Neuro was very close to people in the school. It helped one of our beloved members, Mr. Gaudette. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and luckily, the Montreal Neuro was on the ball. They saved him, and he was one of my favorite gym teachers. So, the cause is personal, and I’m glad I could do a little something for this event.”

Di Staulo emphasized the importance of supporting The Neuro, saying, “Some people really need the help, and I believe The Montreal Neuro is a great organization that supports them.”

“Just being back at my old school really, really brings back memories, and it helps with missing elementary school and stuff like that.”

Sammarco reflected on the dedication of the school community in making the event a success.

“It’s a passion of love for us. And to be able to put this together with our elementary school students, people will forget when they see the show that these are students in elementary school. That we can show their talents and showcase the musicality of this school just brings a smile to my face. I’m so very, very proud of the school community,” expressed Sammarco.

Event organizers at LDVA say the goal is not only to raise funds but also to engage students in meaningful contributions to a cause that affects many. The funds raised will support brain research and provide treatment for those affected by neurological diseases.

March 10-16 marks Brain Awareness Week, a global event aimed at raising awareness about the brain and neurological health. During this week, LDVA students will participate in educational activities in collaboration with McGill groups such as Let’s Talk Science and Brain Reach, learning about brain health and its importance.

“The brain is actually the most important part of our body. It’s a mechanism that works fantastically. It’s pretty inspiring to see how it functions, and we use it every single day. It’s just very powerful to know what it can actually do for us. So we wanted the kids to get a feel for how they can use it to maintain their health, have better memory, and focus better when they’re at school. So, Let’s Talk Science came to the school, and we had our Brain Awareness Week,” explained Gavita.

Rakowski emphasized the importance of spreading awareness, stating, “People don’t always think about it unless it directly affects them, but it’s essential to understand how important the brain is. The brain is crucial to life. People love to live, so they care about their brains.”

LDVA hopes to further engage the local community through ticket sales, raffle prizes, and donations, with local sponsors supporting the event.

“Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 for the Neuro. If we surpass it, that will be amazing. We just want to make more contributions to the Neuro. There have been so many advances since 2016, and it’s thanks to these donations that the research can continue and the advances can keep happening. We can continue to save lives and make a difference,” said Sammarco.

As the community rallied behind the cause, Sammarco reflected on the overwhelming support they’ve received.

“We are truly humbled by this community and how they’ve come forward. Be it a sponsor for a raffle, sponsoring the event, or donating costumes, people just learned about what we’re doing and reached out to us, saying, ‘We want to be a part. How can we help?’ So it’s truly humbling that we can all come together for this great cause.”