PEER Kindness began with a profound loss and a powerful choice.

After losing their daughter Caitlyn Nell Haynes in 2015 to suicide following years of bullying, Todd and Maya Haynes faced a choice: let grief consume them or transform it into something that could protect other children.

Seventeen year old Cait was a vibrant member of the Montrose community – bright, deeply loved, and the kind of young person any parent would be proud to call their own. But like so many kids and teens today, the persistent nature of bullying, both in school and online, created a burden that became too heavy to bear alone.

After her passing, the Haynes were left with unimaginable grief and a determination to use Cait’s experience to make an impact, starting in their local community of Montrose, Colorado.

In their daughter’s memory, Todd and Maya, Cait’s big sister, Ashley, and other incredible community members, committed to creating the support systems and community culture that they wish had existed for Cait, by creating the nonprofit organization PEER Kindness. More than a bullying prevention nonprofit, PEER Kindness is a movement to change the culture in schools – by helping children, families, and communities build emotional resilience, practice empathy, and choose compassion, every single day.

Today, every time a student finds the courage to sit with someone eating alone, every time a young person stands up for a classmate, every time a school community becomes more welcoming – Cait's spirit lives on.

Her story didn't end with her death; it began a movement that continues to save lives and transform communities.