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Michael Desjardins - Co-Founder
Michael is a passionate community organizer and charity leader based in Burlington, Ontario. Co-founder of the Levie Initiative & owner of Pets N Groom a family owned & operated Burlington business since 1996. Michael excels in event coordination, fundraising, and donor engagement.
Julie Neal - Co-Founder
Julie Neal is a mom, educator, fundraiser, and community advocate who believes the strongest change comes from lived experience. After many years of fundraising, Julie saw firsthand how powerful community can be when people come together with purpose.
A dedicated educator for over 20 years, Julie has witnessed the daily challenges families face both in and out of the classroom. Combined with her own family’s struggles, this perspective has shaped her deep understanding of what meaningful support truly looks like.
Julie is now a cofounder of Levie’s Initiative alongside Mike Desjardins. The organization is named after her youngest son, Liam, and Mike’s daughter Evie, a name that represents being united and intertwined. Supported by a devoted behind-the-scenes husband, Julie is committed to turning compassion into action by building strong partnerships and creating programs that make a real, lasting difference for local families.
James Neal - Director
What began as being “volun-told” to organize a four-week bottle and food drive during COVID quickly turned into a one-day community event that raised $8,000 for the Compassion Society and collected over 2,000 pounds of food for local families in need. That moment helped spark a deeper commitment to grassroots community support.
Often working quietly behind the scenes, James has been a steady supporter of many charitable initiatives alongside his wife, Julie, and close friend and community advocate Michael Desjardins. His dedication and willingness to step in wherever needed have helped many community efforts grow into meaningful and successful platforms for giving back.
Now, James is stepping out from behind the scenes to take on a more active and visible role as a Director of the Levie Initiative, an organization created in honour of his son. Through this work, he is committed to supporting other families facing difficult times and strengthening the connections between community, business, and local charities.
Beth Longo – Finance Director
Beth was born and raised in Burlington and owns TradePro Bookkeeping & Consulting, where she supports many local businesses by bringing clarity (and maybe even a little fun) to their finances.
When she’s not working, Beth is a wife, mom to two young girls, and an active member of their school’s Parent Council. She also volunteers as a Girl Guide leader, where she helps local girls build confidence, friendships, and encourages them to try new things.
As a lifelong volunteer and event organizer, Beth is passionate about cultivating Community. She believes strong communities are built by people who show up and give freely of themselves in whatever way they can.
