The Peter Fund - Kindness Counts awards honor son

When Eve Bonn and Dave Elchoness lost their son Peter suddenly in November 2022 to myocarditis, they wanted to be sure they honored the person he was.

A senior at Niwot High School at the time of his death, Peter Bonn-Elchoness was known to be a magnetic presence who made an impact on those around him. His father said stories about Peter's kindness were endless.

"After he passed, we began receiving notes from people about all the kind things he had done. One woman told me Peter had befriended her son when he was in crisis and helped her son get through a rough time. Another kid told me that in middle school, she was being bullied. Peter stood up and said if they wanted to bully her they'd have to bully him too."

Dave and Eve knew they wanted to tap into that spirit of kindness to honor their son. "With him not here physically, we want to do what we can to recreate what he would have done, the kindness he would have shown," Dave said.

"We didn't really know what that would look like," Dave said, "but working with teachers and administrators at the high school, we came up with the Kindness Counts award."

Eve and Dave started The Peter Fund, a non-profit organization, to administer the award. They believe that recognizing the importance of kindness is part of the cure, and that teens can lead the way. "There's a valedictorian for grades, but I think there should be a valedictorian for kindness, too," Dave stated. "Even if you aren't the best student, you should still be rewarded."

NHS staff and students were able to nominate current seniors for the award that recognizes compassion, kindness and generosity of spirit. Nominations were due April 28. In the first year, five students will receive a Kindness Counts award. Each recipient will receive $250 and a $250 donation will be made in their name to a youth-centered non-profit of their choice.

The awards are funded by the family and by donations to The Peter Fund. "We've received donations from people in the community and even around the country," Dave said. "Donations have even come from strangers who have heard about what we're doing."

The Peter Fund board, comprised of Eve, Dave, Peter's two brothers, Henry and Charles, and Peter's friend Ryan Lady, a NHS senior, will choose award recipients early in May. "Being a good person, a person others want to spend time with – that's what I'm trying to emphasize." Dave said.

And his hope is that the award eventually spreads beyond Niwot. "In a perfect world this will grow and this will become the kind of thing we can facilitate everywhere."

For more information on Peter, the Kindness Counts Award and The Peter Fund, visit https://www.thepeterfund.org/.