On March 16th Melissa Paloti and her daughter Emily lost a piece of themselves. Mike Paloti, a loving and devoted husband and father, passed away suddenly.

Anyone who has the joy of knowing Melissa knows what a warm and generous person she is. She is the friend who moves impossible mountains, provides a shoulder, an ear, a laugh, or a cold gin and tonic. She is the one who starts the meal trains and GoFundMe's for others in need. She is the person who shows up.

Melissa is a Girl Scout troop leader who once led her girls through a mountain on what turned out to be a broken ankle because pausing the adventure was not an option. She is an active volunteer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, chairing an annual walk that raises money and awareness. She chaperones field trips, hand-crafts custom souvenirs for her daughter’s events, and remembers every birthday. Above all, Melissa is an incredible mother to an equally incredible daughter.

The way Mike cherished Melissa and Emily was apparent to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him, and he would want them to continue living the life they created as a team. Melissa and Mike worked to create a life for Emily that includes summer camp, Girl Scouts, and elaborate lego sets that Emily and Mike would build together.

It’s time to pull together for the woman who is always there for everyone, and for a kid who is one of the wittiest, kindest and brightest people anyone could be lucky enough to know.

Having to move forward without Mike is an unimaginable task. Please help us ease the burden as Melissa transitions to a single income parent by donating whatever you are able.