LUMA, previously The Symphony Guild, formed in 1997 as a group of professionals coming together for one cause – to help children get the care they need no matter their circumstance. This unique team raises money for uncompensated care and pediatric cancer research at Seattle Children’s Hospital. The over $1 million raised places LUMA on the “Top 25 Fundraising Guilds” list at the hospital.

How it all began…Many years ago, a colleague of Mateo Messina called him into his office and told him about the loss of his daughter due to brain cancer. He shared that despite the hard circumstances, Seattle Children’s Hospital made the last year of his daughter’s life wonderful. He also mentioned that there was a piano in the hospital’s playroom. One week later Mateo started volunteering by playing piano for the kids and staff in the playroom. Later that year he produced his first Seattle Children’s benefit concert: Human.

Inspired to make a bigger impact, Mateo sought out the best team of creative minds to join him in building an organization. Through the years this innovative team has grown to 50+ members and together they give back to the community. The LUMA team meets year-round, sometimes in the hospital, and sometimes over dinner and wine, to plan events and to produce the annual benefit concert.

Although Mateo’s music career takes him back and forth to Hollywood, California, nearly two decades later, Mateo still plays regularly for kids in the hospital’s playroom.