A student initiative that became a nonprofit.

On June 22, 2023, I lost my dad, Michael Colucci, to cirrhosis of the liver after years of drug and alcohol abuse. I was about to start my freshman year of high school, and losing him became the center of my world.

For over a year, I pushed my emotions aside. Talking about my dad was hard, even with my closest family. Eventually, I wanted to do something with the pain I had been carrying. I knew I needed to turn a mess into a message.

That’s why Diego and I founded Building Our Lives Drug-Free, or B.O.L.D. We wanted to help the youth understand the impact of drugs and alcohol and keep other families from experiencing the same loss.

When we started, I thought I would just be talking about my dad to students in our community. Looking back, it’s hard to believe I used the word “just.” There was a time when I would go silent when my friends would mention their dads. Since then, I’ve shared his story with so many students, and our hopes for B.O.L.D. have grown.

Now, we want to reach beyond our local middle schools. Our goal is to help individuals and families struggling with addiction, including the kids growing up around it. I know what it feels like to be one of those kids. Your support can help us reach more of them and build on the work we’ve started.

I still struggle with losing my dad, and I know that nothing I do can bring him back. I want to help other families have more time together and give kids like me the chance to grow up with the people they love.

I’ll never see Papá again, but through B.O.L.D. and every chance I get to share his story, I know he’s still here with me.