Fund a memorial park bench for Melanie Diaz

We are fundraising for a memorial park bench to be placed in the Ellsworth Dog Park to remember the life of Melanie Diaz, who died with her two dogs trying to escape the fire on Georgia Ave this past Saturday. Funds will go to her boyfriend of 6 years, Michael Sobalvarro, who will transfer them to the Montgomery County Parks Foundation to purchase the bench and plaque in mid-March.

Melanie pursued her passion in environmentalism to make the world a better place for all people and creatures.

She loved dogs, especially the most vulnerable ones, and even her in last moments, protected her puppies from the smoke by removing her jacket and covering them.

Melanie would frequent the Ellsworth Dog Park on a daily basis. She found her peace in that little park, where people and animals came together in peace to live, laugh, and connect. She would speak to everybody and anybody, and pet every furry one.

To honor her sacrificial love for dogs and the park, we’d like to commemorate a bench in her honor for others to find refuge and community with their dogs just as Melanie would.

A place to sit, reflect, and relax alongside your pet because life is precious.

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/she-was-a-great-person-family-mourns-loss-of-daughter-killed-in-silver-spring-apartment-fire