🌱 Community Spotlight: EarthBalance Corporation 🌱

What is a memorial forest without trees? To honor Sgt. Elio Diaz, we wanted to create something that would live forever – a forest that grows, regenerates, and shelters life for generations to come. The idea was to jump-start a mature, native ecosystem so that Sgt. Diaz’s legacy could take root in a place of beauty, resilience, and renewal.

This “micro forest” would be planted by his loved ones, colleagues, and community members – a powerful demonstration of connection, service, and shared purpose. But bringing this vision to life required more than 400 native trees and shrubs.

We’re grateful to have a long-standing relationship with EarthBalance Corporation, a local native nursery that has supplied many of Hope’s plants over the years. When we reached out to ask if they would be willing to contribute more than 100 trees and shrubs to the memorial forest, they immediately said yes.

Thanks to EarthBalance Corporation, the memorial forest is now home to stunning ash trees, beautyberries, button bushes, inkberries, laurel oaks, red maples, Spanish stoppers, and wax myrtles – species that will shape the structure and character of the forest as it matures.

Please join us in thanking EarthBalance Corporation for their generosity and for being an essential part of the Sgt. Elio Diaz Memorial Forest.