ABOUT US



Who we are, what we do

and where your money goes.


TICKETS

The Cause



Our mission is to help local children’s charities that provide essential services by fundraising on their behalf. This year we have partnered again with Sarah’s Fund for Cedars that raises critical funds for the needs of young cancer patients who are hospitalized on Sarah’s Floor, the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology division, at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.


All proceeds will be benefitting the Music Therapy Program on Sarah’s Floor. This program aims to promote wellness, manage stress, alleviate pain, to express feelings, complement physical rehabilitation, and so much more. In a pediatric health care environment, these elements are very important to the healing process.


About Sarah’s Fund for Cedars - Sarah’s Fund is dedicated to support the needs of the Pediatric Hematology Oncology patients and their families by providing the best patient care to improve the quality of life for young cancer patients on the Sarah’s Floor (7B) at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.


Working in close collaboration with the Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Cedars Cancer Foundation and Cedars’ Medical Advisory Committee, Sarah’s Fund is continually evaluating opportunities to support equipment purchases, provides crucial support to programs, services and other priority needs to ease the care and treatment of young patients and their families who are battling cancer on Sarah’s Floor.



HISTORY



Since its foundation in 1993, Kids for Kids has raised over $4.5 million for various children’s causes and has touched the lives of children throughout the city of Montreal. It all started with a group of twenty-something friends looking for a way to give back to their community. They focused their efforts on a local children’s charity and Kids for Kids was born.


The first recipient was the Miriam Foundation, an organization for the intellectually and physically disabled. Kids for Kids held a comedy night at the Museum of Humor and raised $22,000 to furnish a new home for eight severely disabled children.


Kids for Kids continued to branch out, raising funds on behalf of a deserving Montreal grassroots children’s charity each year including: Club des petits déjeuners, Generations Foundation, Centre de répit Philou, L.O.V.E (Leave Out Violence), the St-Justine and Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundations, and more. This undertaking would not have been possible without the generous support of the many individual donors, corporations and promoters.


In 2009, the Kids for Kids committee joined forces with Sarah's Fund of the Cedars Cancer Foundation to raise much needed funds for a Lucy 3D Phantom, a vital instrument for children undergoing radiation therapy and to support the needs of “Sarah’s Floor” at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. The combined forces resulted in one of the strongest, most diverse and well-connected group of young Montrealers raising money for local children’s charities.



THE COMMITTEE



Costadina Mavros-Dadoun



Co-Chair



With an expertise and knowledge of Montreal's dynamic market Costadina felt drawn to the city's most ambitious young professionals, collaborating together on some of the city's top campaigns and events. Combining her passion for marketing with a major commitment to philanthropy led to her most dedicated philanthropic undertaking; serving as the co-chair for Kids 4 Kids.



Brahm MaUER



Co-Chair



Brahm is the owner and president of Brahm Mauer Bar Services which has emerged as the industry leader in event bar services in Montreal. Through his dedication to excellent service and unparalleled creativity, Brahm has built a reputation over the past ten years that has made Brahm Mauer Bar Services the most in demand service for weddings, corporate, and nonprofit events in Montreal.



OLIVIA ASSOULINE



Committee Member



Olivia has had a passion for real estate for as long as she can remembers. Her aim is to be fulfilled and contribute to the success of a vibrant Real estate team, by adding her education and experienced background in architecture. She has had a passion for philanthropic work as her family is deeply committed to always giving back to those in need.



Samantha Bucci



Committee Member



Samantha's background in fashion marketing as well as her creativity, and love for event planning has led her to get to where she is today. Being a part of the EM Events team as well as her four year old niece being a leukemia survivor are the main reasons she holds the Kids for Kids foundation close to her heart. She is determined to help raise as much money and awareness as she can.



Sarah Cook



Committee Member



After being diagnosed with cancer at eight years old and now a three time cancer survivor, has dedicated most of her young life to helping kids and teenagers battling cancer on Sarah's Floor at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Since 2001, Sarah's Fund for Cedars has supported many projects that have had an immeasurable impact on our young hematology-oncology patients.



David Dadoun



Committee Member



From a very young age Dave has always been enthralled with technology. His passion for tech led him to work at multiple tech companies including one in the medical space, which opened his eyes to the shortcomings and needs of the medical system in Quebec. When the opportunity arose to join K4K it was a no brainer for him, as he saw first hand what people must go through in order to receive proper medical care. Since then, Dave has founded his own web and graphic design company, and dedicates his spare time to his favorite charity; Kids4Kids.



Stephen Drysdale



Committee Member



Stephen Drysdale is the president and CEO of Drysdale Group. He is also an executive at DVL Freight Systems. He is also an owner of a newly established wine, spirits and beverage distribution company which represents celebrity owned brands. Stephen has been a proud and heavily involved committee member for Kids for Kids foundation since 2015 and has helped the Gala evolve to what it is today. He is also a committee member at the Saint Mary’s Hospital Foundation and has also worked with the Shriners hospital and the Make a Wish Foundation for years.



Aline Elzein



Committee Member



Since a very young age, Aline began to develop her love and passion for real estate, design and architecture, which has stuck with her from childhood through adulthood. Born and raised in Montreal, Aline is fluent in English, French, Arabic and speaks a bit of Spanish. Inspiring confidence, integrity, and accountability, Aline's passion for real estate is apparent through her excellent negotiation skills, having earned a certificate in Negotiation from Harvard Business school. Her enthusiasm for assisting others and listening to her clients’ concerns helps her connect with people and provide them with the best service possible.



Gail Garceau



Committee Member



With a passion for health and expertise in flexibility training, Gail plays a prominent role in Montreal's fitness community. Between training professional and Olympic athletes and teaching Essentrics throughout the city, Gail is devoted to pursuing her education and research in Health Sciences to better serve her community. When she's not training or studying, Gail can usually be found playing beach volleyball, snowboarding in the Laurentians, or golfing with her dad.



BIANCA KADOCH



Committee Member



Bianca Kadoch, partner of Brahm Mauer Bar Services is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in the dynamic realms of the event and nightlife industry. Despite initially studying to be a teacher, her journey led her to the vibrant world of events, where she’s thrived for over 10 years. A proud mother of two boys, family is at the core of her life. Balancing the demands of the nightlife scene with the joys of motherhood has been both challenging and rewarding. Her commitment extends beyond the glitz of events; she finds purpose in supporting charitable causes, particularly those focused on children. Advocating for the well-being of the younger generation has become a cornerstone of her values.



Dania & DaraH Lecomples



Committee Members



Dania & Darah both share a passion for philanthropy, having worked with many charities as well as sitting on several committees in the past. Dania specializes in interior styling & design, sharing lifestyle and design tips with her online community. Darah is a Director of Operations for several medical clinics, with a Masters from McGill-Desautels in International Health Leadership.



LORNE LEVITT



Committee Member



Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, it was at an early age that Lorne began his focus in lighting design and technical production while working for a local concert production firm. Lorne soon had the itch to work on more creative projects. In 1993 Lorne, along with his business partner, started Total Events. For over two decades, Lorne has used his creative background and extensive experience in lighting design, sound production, and art/music education to successfully blend all technical and creative aspects of events into award winning productions. His solid grasp of event design, and a clear understanding of proper show-flow, allow Lorne to masterfully deploy all technical and décor elements in ways that enhance the overall guest experience.



Adamo Mariani



Committee Member



A certified Real Estate broker since 2003, Adamo’s past experiences has led him to his current role at Marcus & Millichap as Vice President Investments with a specialization in land transactions for redevelopment and Capital market trades above 20 million. Adamo has a long history of working alongside many philanthropic groups to give back to his community and to those who need it most… the kids. This will be the 5th year Adamo has been a part of the Kids 4 Kids charity gala. As a new father himself this charity hits closer to home, being able to contribute to a charity that will improve the lives of children has become more important than ever.



Eric Petraglia



Committee Member



Eric Petraglia has been in the Food and Beverage industry for 20 plus years. His experiences have led him to owning and operating various restaurants & supper clubs. He currently owns and operates the Parma Cafe chain in Montreal and is anticipating the opening of a Prepared Foods Market in the North Shore. In 2017 after his daughter had a bought with cancer, he decided to become a member of Kids 4 Kids and donates regularly to the Montreal Children’s Hospital! He found a new sense purpose through his daughter and feels the need to give back to the Hospital and community that gave his daughter the opportunity to live her best life!



DANIEL SELCER



Committee Member



A serial entrepreneur with a strong background in marketing and branding, Daniel has been able to create strong brands that have scaled nationally. Serving Canadians by being the first Drive Thru COVID Testing site amassing over +20 locations through his partnerships and employing +300 Canadians. If that wasn’t enough, Daniel has wowed the Canadian event industry being the first to bring NEON signs to spruce up any setting. Giving back to the community has always been important to Daniel, hence why Something Neon has been a proud sponsor of Kids for Kids for the last two galas.



Emilie Waxman



Committee Member



Emilie Waxman, president and founder of EMevents, started her company 10 years ago with her extensive knowledge and training in the event industry. Her passion for bringing clients’ visions to life drives her to plan private and corporate events in Montreal that are unlike any other. Emilie truly gains her essence through her ability to read and adapt to different clients, resulting in exceptionally unique events that cater to all tastes and audiences. Whilst the thrill of hosting an event is often hindered by stress, Emilie takes pride in her organizational skills that help the client and herself maintain a stress-free environment – the true ingredient to any great event.