MEET
THE TEAM
The heart behind Love, Sophia is made up of people who cared deeply, believe in our mission, and are committed to honoring Sophia's legacy through action, kindness, and continued support for families in Western New York and beyond.
A team with purpose for a better tomorrow.
Do you know how loved you are?
Founder & President
Alicia R. LaBorde
My greatest title will always be Sophia’s mom.
For sixteen years, I had the privilege of loving and being loved by the funniest, fiercest, most stubborn, compassionate girl I have ever known. Sophia had this incredible way of making people feel loved. Even while fighting cancer herself, she noticed other people. She gave, she advocated, she dreamed big, and she taught me more about strength, courage, and kindness than I could ever put into words.
When Sophia passed away, I knew I needed to find a way to keep all of that love moving. Love, Sophia was born from that need—and from a promise in my heart that her story would never end with the day we lost her.
I created Love, Sophia to carry forward the way she lived: loving people fiercely, showing up when life gets hard, and reminding families that they don’t have to face the unimaginable alone. Every family we help, every wish we make possible, every act of kindness we inspire, and every person who joins this mission becomes another piece of Sophia’s legacy.
Outside of Love, Sophia, I’m just me—a Western New York girl who loves God, my family and friends, Sophia’s pup Finn, music and concerts, and Buffalo sports. The Sabres have my heart first (sorry, Bills). I love deeply, I’m fiercely loyal, and when I care about something, I tend to care about it with everything I have. I’ve also never been particularly good at being told something can’t be done. Sophia definitely got that stubborn streak from me.
I’m currently writing a book about Sophia, our life together, and the journey that changed everything. Grief has changed me in ways I’m still learning to understand, but it hasn’t stopped me from living deeply, dreaming big, or trying to make something good out of the love I will always carry for my daughter.
I have enormous dreams for what Love, Sophia can become. I want it to grow, reach families when they need someone most, create moments of joy in impossibly difficult seasons, and remind people how much good can happen when we choose to show up for one another.
But underneath every program, every event, every fundraiser, and every big dream is something incredibly simple:
I am a mom who loves her daughter, and I will spend the rest of my life making sure that love continues to do good in this world.
Forever love,
Sophia’s Mom ♡
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A dedicated group of people working together to carry Sophia's love forward and make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families.
Michelle Girardi Zumwalt
Hello!
My name is Michelle. As the Supervising Producer for the Buffalo Sabres, I’m tasked with identifying and sharing stories that connect the team to our community.
In October 2023, I had the honor of producing a video about Sophia’s cancer journey for Hockey Fights Cancer and was immediately struck by her poise and determination despite all she faced at such a young age. I was lucky enough to be the first person to greet Soph with a hug after she dropped the puck on her big night, and have been attached to the LaBorde family ever since. Knowing how much Sophia loved the team, we arranged special game experiences, locker room visits and personal time with “her boys,” especially her bestie Rasmus Dahlin.
Sophia became a beloved member of the Sabres family. She inspired the entire organization with her kindness, confidence and drive to help others. I’m grateful to help carry forward her legacy through Love, Sophia so that all can know her heart and feel her love.
Love, Michelle ♡
VICE PRESIDENT
Sarah Brancatella
Hello!
I'm an attorney, a lobbyist, and a Western New Yorker at heart, even if life has pulled me to the other side of the state. I grew up in West Seneca, earned my law degree at UB, and for more than a decade I've worked with an organization dedicated to strengthening local governments across New York State.
I'm also four years in remission from cancer and carry two genetic mutations that increase my risk for several others. I've been through chemo, immunotherapy, radiation, multiple surgeries, and more scans than I can count, so I understand what it means to sit in waiting rooms, make impossible decisions, live with uncertainty, and still keep going. That experience is a big part of why I serve on this board.
I came to Love, Sophia through my longtime friend and fellow board member Michelle, who introduced me to Sophia's story and to a family determined to carry her light forward. I never had the chance to meet Sophia, but following her story, I understood why so many people feel compelled to keep her kindness moving through the world. On the board, I focus on the legal and governance groundwork that makes a charity trustworthy and lasting, because Sophia's legacy deserves an organization strong enough to support Western New York families for years to come. I'm honored to be part of that.
Love, Sarah ♡
BOARD MEMBER
Katie Boyle
Hello!
My name is Katie Boyle, and I am Love, Sophia's Treasurer and board member.
I was born and raised in Olean, NY, leaving only to go to college at the University at Buffalo, where I graduated in 2010. Shortly after, I started working at Community Bank.
Back in 2014, I met Alicia when she started working at the same bank. I watched her assemble the famous "wall of Soph", aka every school picture, sport, and activity that Sophia was involved in, every single year, without fail. The wall grew quite large over the years. Everday, I got to see these photos tell the story of Sophia, watching her become a strong, beautiful, confident, smart, hilarious, amazing kid.
To know Sophia was to love her. She was always laughing and smiling, always caring for others. She even invited a friendly neighborhood stray cat inside (with her mom's permission), and to everyone's surprise, it gave birth 2 days later. Guess who got one of those kittens? Hint, hint (see picture). Alicia and Sophia used to stop by if they were in the neighborhood to visit Sophia's baby, and the kitty remembered her every single time.
When Alicia began Love, Sophia, I was honored to be asked to become a part of the mission. I am excited to help carry on Sophia’s legacy and be part of a mission dedicated to spreading the same love and kindness to families throughout WNY that Sophia gave so freely throughout her life.
Outside of Love, Sophia, I love traveling, attending local festivals, enjoying live music, and watching the Bills. I also love to cook and spend time at home with my pets, two bulldogs and one very special cat.
Love, Katie ♡
TREASURER
Maddison Doel
Hello!
My name is Maddison. I am a childhood cancer survivor, an advocate, a passionate connector, and a Buffalo fanatic. After years spent in hospital rooms learning how to advocate for my own body, I found my voice and a mission to support others.
I met Sophia at a Christmas party where we connected instantly, bonding over shared hospital experiences, friendships, typical teenage stress, and upcoming surgeries. A week after we exchanged numbers, I was able to visit her in the hospital after she underwent the exact same surgery I had faced a year prior.
Seeing Sophia’s face in that hospital room, I instantly recognized the pain, discomfort, and exhaustion. I was that girl not too long ago, but the difference was that Sophia carried herself differently. She opened my eyes in many ways. I’ve always been someone who talks a lot and takes advocacy seriously—being diagnosed at five years old teaches you very quickly how to make decisions for yourself. Having spent the first 20 years of my life knowing the ins and outs of sleepless hospital nights, I thought I had it all figured out. But Sophia taught me what it truly means to use my voice.
So here I am. I’m here to share stories, build community, and offer a much-needed break to those walking a similar path.
Love, Maddison ♡
BOARD MEMBER
Tricia Reynolds
Hello!
My name is Tricia. I have been incredibly blessed to be a part of Sophia’s life since she was just three weeks old. From the adorable baby who came into this world with a strong will of her own, to the sassy, independent, and endlessly kind young woman she became, watching Sophia grow has been one of the greatest privileges of my life.
I still remember when I watched Sophia so Mom and Dad could have some time alone. She was only three weeks old. She cried all night, and I ultimately had to call off work the next day. Even then, I remember thinking, this little girl is strong-willed. That strength became such a beautiful part of who Sophia was.
My friendship with Alicia began in high school, and over the years, our friendship grew through both the beautiful and incredibly difficult experiences life brought our way. We share a unique understanding because we have both experienced the unimaginable heartbreak of having a child affected by cancer. That shared experience makes being a part of Love, Sophia especially meaningful to me.
I have had the privilege of standing beside Alicia through her heartbreak and grief, and now I am honored to stand beside her as she transforms that pain into something positive, something meaningful, something that carries Sophia’s spirit forward.
Love, Sophia is more than a nonprofit. It is a way to turn love into action. It is about making sure families in Western New York facing childhood cancer know that they are not alone. It is about offering support, compassion, and hope during some of the most difficult moments a family can experience.
I am incredibly proud to be a part of building Love, Sophia and helping create its future. I know Sophia would be incredibly proud of what we are doing in her name. Her kindness, strength, and spirit are at the heart of this mission, and it is our hope that her legacy will continue to touch the lives of countless families throughout Western New York.
We are building something that I believe Sophia would be over the moon happy about. A community where families feel supported, cared for, and reminded that they don't have to face childhood cancer alone. That they are loved.
Love, Tricia ♡
SECRETARY
Maggie Dreyer
Hello!
My name is Maggie Dreyer. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-R) with a deep commitment to supporting children and families facing life’s most difficult challenges. My professional experience has centered on advocating for children, strengthening families, and providing compassionate guidance through times of crisis and loss. As a board member, I am honored to combine my clinical expertise with my passion for improving the lives of children affected by pediatric cancer. I am dedicated to ensuring families have access to emotional support, meaningful resources, and a caring community, while helping advance our mission to bring hope, comfort, and lasting impact to every child and family we serve. I am honored to serve alongside each of the other board members and ensuring Sophia's legacy and love is honored in the way she wanted!
Love, Maggie ♡
BOARD MEMBER
