Tuesday: Del Ray Businesses to Host Fundraiser for Daughters of Rose Cruz, Mother Hit by Car in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- As the Del Ray community mourns the loss of a beloved restaurant employee, friend, neighbor and mother of four, the Del Ray Business Association recently announced that it will host a major fundraiser for the family of Rosemarie Cruz tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 13. Cruz was an employee at Market2Market.

The fundraiser is scheduled from 5-9 p.m. Special menu items will be available for a $20 donation.

Cruz, 49, passed away last weekend from injuries sustained after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Mt. Vernon Avenue at W. Glebe Road. A 77-year old driver, who stayed on the scene, faces a Failed to Yield to Pedestrians charge, police said.

The "Rally for Rose" fundraiser is set for tomorrow (Tuesday) from 5-9 p.m., when restaurants on the St. Elmo's block of Mt. Vernon Avenue -- Market2Market, St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, The Dairy Godmother, Holy Cow and Pork Barrel BBQ -- will offer special menu items for a $20 donation; all proceeds from that menu will go to the fund for Cruz's young daughters. In addition, a number of Del Ray businesses have donated gift certificates for a raffle to be held during the event.

"She brought so much love to all of us, her family, our staff, our customers, the whole community," said Larry Ponzi, the owner of Market2Market, St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, and Cafe Pizzaiolo in the news release from the Del Ray Business Association.

"This is what we can do for her now -- raise money for these kids, for her family," Ponzi said.

Cruz was the deli manager at Market2Market. "Rose was a positive force in our community, this tragedy leaves a painful wound," said Pork Barrel BBQ's Bill Blackburn, president of the Del Ray Business Association. "It's time to rally and show support for her family."

Cruz lived in Alexandria with husband Romy Sarangay, and their 10-year-old and 12-year-old daughters. She also has a 26-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old son in the Phillippines. For those who want to support the family but cannot make it to the fundraiser, a GoFundMe account has been set up for the family. As of Tuesday afternoon, 626 people had donated nearly $47,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Market2Market is located at 116 E. Del Ray Avenue; St. Elmo's Coffee Pub, The Dairy Godmother, Holy Cow, and Pork Barrel BBQ are located on the adjacent 2300 block of Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. For more information on the fundraiser, visit www.visitdelray.com.

PHOTO of Rosemarie Cruz courtesy of GoFundMe page.