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72 Acts of Kindness

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72 Acts of Kindness

This page is dedicated to our son, Colin, who was shot and killed in November 2024. Our sweet boy was a kind, loving, and passionate young man.

It serves as a place to share stories of Colin and the tragic reality of child loss. Through "72 Acts," we aim to continue his legacy of community, education, and hockey. This page and the efforts associated with it are dedicated to our son, Colin John Brown, who was tragically shot and killed in November 2024. He wholeheartedly believed in giving back to the community and to those who supported him. We hope that the qualities embodied by our son will inspire you to think of others first and keep our precious 72 in your thoughts. This page will serve as a place to share funny and beautiful stories about Colin, as well as the heartbreaking reality of child loss. In hockey, when a player scores three goals, it’s called a hat trick. In honor of Colin, we will refer to "3 Acts of Kindness" as “A Hat Trick for Brownie.” The number 72 was Colin’s club hockey number with the Affton Americans Central States U16 Team, while the number 3 was his number playing for the CBC High School Hockey Club. He was affectionately known as "Brownie" at both teams and in the local hockey community. We humbly ask you to share your stories of giving back. To share any of your "Acts of Kindness" directly with us, you may use our email at [email protected] or, for those who know us personally, feel free to text us. This will help us amplify the kindness of those who thought of us and our Colin while helping others. So let’s get out there and score a "Hat Trick for Brownie!"

11/01/2026

November, the start of our most challenging month for the last two years and forever going forward. Yesterday, after years and years of hosting Halloween where boys would be running in and out of our house, our house now remains dark. We don’t buy candy to pass out anymore, we just try to find a way not to fall apart. There had always been so much to love about the fall for our family, now the crisp cool air is a reminder of the incoming anniversary. There is no place to escape it, getting dark at 5, seeing all the holiday decorations exploding all over, pumpkin everything all once so welcoming and loved but now they are daily reminders he isn’t here to enjoy his favorite time of year. Oh how I loved to change our home from a fall festival to a winter wonderland but now we crawl into bed, blankets overhead waiting for the 23-27th of this month.

While there will never be a Halloween, a Thanksgiving or Christmas in our home again we now have the most precious , breathtaking reminder of Colin to adorn our home, it will be treasured in our family long after we are gone. While there will never be grandchildren to say “look at grandpa Colin” we hope that Liam will place this painting in his home one day and tell his children about their amazing Uncle Colin.

I strongly believe Colin made sure we met Ted. Approximately 6 weeks ago we had taken Liam to Lexington Kentucky for an official college tour. Late that first evening we were in our hotel lobby admiring all the artwork they had on display of the Kentucky Derby. While I had been talking to my husband about the difficulty of finding an artist who could do something with my favorite locker room picture of Colin the very kind and beautiful Tonya told us she represented the artist whose work we were admiring, Ted Dimond. We told her our story of losing Colin and asked if he would ever do work of non celebrity people, “of course” she said. We traded info and we went on our way. Not soon after I received a call from Tonya who said Ted was actually at the hotel for the exhibition and wanted to meet us. We meet with Ted the next evening to discuss our sweet boy and the possibility of Ted creating a painting that fully encompasses who our Colin was.

Well, last week absolute perfection arrived to our home. Every single brushstroke was a piece of Colin, every drop of color breaths life into the soul that was him. I haven’t stopped starring at this amazing piece of art since it arrived. Ted’s work simply captures the very essence of Colin, his determination, his focus on prepping for a game, his ability to center himself before taking to the ice. Our season of darkness is upon us but thank you Ted Dimond and Tonya for bringing some light into our lives.

10/19/2026

Trying to find the right words has been difficult, how do you sit in a courtroom and hear murder charges being read and your son’s name said out loud as the victim. You sit there numb, out of body and for the life of you cannot believe it’s actually happening.

We had to do that three times this month, twice we heard a plea of guilty but the third time what was supposed to be a third guilty plea turned in to a not guilty plea and we will be having to suffer through a trial as if they haven’t taken enough from us.

Someday I will go into detail about all of this, someday I will share the words I have replayed in my head over and over again that I will get to share with the courts and the people responsible for taking Colin’s life and sending us into a life of unending pain. Today is not that day. Today is the day I say thank you to everyone who has supported us in the courtroom, or through words of comfort or prayers for strength. I say thank you to our court advocates who protected us, I say thank you to the media for being respectful and kind. I say thank you to the city of St. Louis who continue to hold us in the palm of their hands. I say thank you to my sisters and brother in laws for driving four hours only to to have to turn around and drive four hours back after court went not as planned. I say thank you to Colin’s Coach and hockey teammates who took time away from their freshman year in college to make sure they supported Brownie. I say thank you to my moms, who held my hand, gave me hugs when my legs went weak and have been checking on me everyday.

These days are challenging, with one quick sentence “we will be going to trial” any strides to my mental health were wiped away. I’m back to not getting dressed and staying in bed. We are approaching the two year anniversary, two years of waiting for justice, only to be told we have to wait some more.

On top of all this stress and anxiety our precious Liam turns 17 tomorrow, 17, an age Colin never got to see. Liam has now surpassed his older brother with the gift of time. Please pray the rest of October is kinder to us.

09/27/2026

What we have been doing:

We have been working behind the scenes to really make a difference, to make Colin proud, to help the world be a better place, to lift those up in times of need. Our board meetings have started and we have created different committees. One of those committees will be about community and how we can make a difference. Today 72 Acts of Kindness did just that. We are proud to say we were one of the sponsors of the first ever Mason’s Mission Color Run. I posted about this foundation earlier and today was their event. Mason’s mother put together an amazing event all by herself to raise awareness about distracted driving, the heartbreaking event that took her young son from her while he was just 14 and riding his bike. Mason lost his life when another teen took his eyes off the road for a second. I personally went to the event and listened to the emotional speech about this young man’s life gone too soon. To say it pulled at my broken heart is an understatement. One of Christina’s last pictures of Mason is him with a rainbow and wouldn’t you know it, today when you looked up there were rainbows all around the Metro area. Hi Mason!

There is more good news, another part of our community development is to assist financially with scholarships for families facing a hardship when it comes to affording their children’s activities. No parent wants to tell their child they have to stop playing a sport because the rising costs are becoming too much for their family budget. So for those of you have donated or helped to raise funds know you had a hand in the two scholarships we gave out this month, allowing two young boys to play hockey, without your help their skates would have been hung up. So thank you and because these are hardship cases I will not being sharing pics or names but I can’t even begin to put into words how wonderful it feels to know we made some young people smile. Colin would be so proud and this is just the beginning, he wanted to make a difference and even after leaving earth he is.

Also if you know, you know, it is Reese pumpkin season, go get one for Colin!

09/16/2026

A little moment to share; as many of you know we live in the bi-state area, the suburbs of St. Louis on the Illinois side but my boys go to school in Missouri. Life, were we live is quiet, peaceful, typical suburbia however Illinois corn is around every corner. My husband shared this with me last year at this time and seeing it again tonight it will now always hit different. Last year Calvin and I were driving home at dusk when he shared a special moment he had with Colin. It probably didn’t feel so special at the time but now it holds so much. Calvin and Colin were coming home from the rink, it was dusk and a beautiful sun was setting as they drove past a farmer cutting down fields and fields of corn. Colin said to his father “look what’s happening Daddy, they are cutting the corn down, do you know what that means?” Not sure Calvin knew at that time but Colin followed with “it means it’s the start of hockey season” with his beautiful half smirk half smile.

He is right, hockey is starting, many teams had their first practice games, showcases or tournaments to kick off the start of this new year and many of those teams sent me pictures of their teams continuing to do a prayer circle for Colin all because one person shared Colin’s story. Colin’s former coach the incredible Bobby J has a new team after three years with the boys of Colin’s team and he is sharing the spirit of Brownie with his new team, in fact he, Scotty and J.Ray added Colin to the roster as an assistant coach. Colin’s former teammates have graduated to college and NAHL hockey teams and have spread the love and kindness across the country with their new teams and then the younger brothers of Colin’s teammates are now partaking in the same special moment on the ice. What a heartwarming movement we are creating, thank you and love you all.

Also driving home tonight, the sunset was beautiful and we witnessed the corn being cut. It’s hockey season Colin!

09/11/2026

September 10th, for so many years it was a celebration of the day we became one and the start of our family journey. In 2004 Calvin and I got married, in 2008 Colin was born followed by Liam in 2009. Three of the most important days in our lives but now September 10th is just another ordinary day we work to get through. In all honesty along with birthdays, holidays and milestones it’s just another day that has been stolen from us. Had someone not mentioned the day to me I would have walked through it without a thought, a memory, a count of how many years. So that’s it, a group or horrible people stole my son’s life, stole our future as a family, stole Liam’s best friend and the stole the ordinary.

I looked around at Target today and saw all the adorable Halloween decorations and felt nothing, absolutely nothing. I was the mom who loved to make a big deal out of everything and Halloween was no exception. A year didn’t go by without adding a few more decorations. Buying little trinkets to “Boo” a neighbor. By early September I would be planning the boys costumes, they were Buzz and Woody, Captain Hook and Peter Pan, Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper. I remember Colin’s first time trick or treating. Liam had just been born so I sat on the front porch while Calvin took him trick or treating, he was so excited to get candy that I could hear him houses away yelling “Tik or Teeet”

As the boys got older we became the house that the friends came to, we would make hot dogs and chili, hot chocolate and get Halloween cupcakes from The Cup. We loved it all, Colin loved it all. September is now September, no anniversary, no Halloween planning and no planting fall flowers. My planters sit empty, flowers won’t be purchased and the decorations are collecting dust.

I share this to say take joy in the ordinary, relish the small everyday things because you never know when it will be taken away. I would love one more anniversary dinner, one more Halloween party, one more anything with Colin.

08/24/2026

Before Colin passed away I went into work for a meeting, when I arrived a few of us were told that it was going to be a tough day for a member of our work family as it was the anniversary of her son’s passing. I very clearly remember sitting there in the conference room, I remember exactly which chair I was sitting in and feeling my heart sink as this was something I had not known. My immediate feeling of helplessness was followed by run away thoughts of how can she even function, how can she smile or laugh or even breath.

I learned my friend and co-worker Christina lost her 14 year old son due to a distracted driver as he was riding his bicycle. Mason was killed, Mason was being a kid, a kid enjoying life and while not intentional Mason’s life was cut short because another person was guilty of doing what a lot of us do, taking our eyes off the road.

I remember Christina sharing her story with all of us and the response everyone always says “I can’t even imagine.” I said it, we all said it and now I don’t have to imagine, I live it along with countless of grieving parents.

Losing your completely healthy and happy child by the hands of another is not something you ever understand, ever get over, ever heal from or ever wake up without it being your first thought and closing your eyes to it being your last thought.

Your life becomes something different than you ever thought it would be and for me that is to keep Colin’s name spoken each and every day of my life. Helping other grieving moms with their missions is exactly how we plan to do that. So 72 Acts of Kindness is supporting Mason’s Mission. Mason’s Mission will be hosting a color run to support the efforts of teaching people about the dangers of distracted driving. We are proud to stand with another mom as she celebrates the life of her beautiful son gone too soon. September 26th is the day, if you can, dust off your running shoes and head to Freeburg Park.

Proud of you Christina and I know Mason is proud of his mother. ❤️

08/12/2026

Heartfelt post: We have formed our Board and have started having meetings, one of those meetings was the discussion of our different committees. One of those committees will be focusing on Community. Last year some amazing young men who were friends of Colin started amazing acts of kindness for the St. Louis community. They started with a school supply drive, continued with a toy drive and a food drive. We hope this is just the beginning of continuing to give back in Colin’s name. I am happy to report our second annual school supply drive was a success. So my sincerest thank you to all who donated.

Last year we raised enough to fill 50 backpacks and this year we doubled it to 100 all by the kindness of our followers. Our hearts are full seeing Colin’s kindness being continued by the community who lifted us during those very dark days. A community of strangers who felt our heartbreak, who helped wipe our tears, who want to make a difference through tragedy and who most importantly want to show love to those in need, just like my Colin.

Joey, JC and David, you spent the past year raising funds, packing up backpacks, delivered supplies to happy children so that they have what they need for a successful school year. We met the three of you as boys and I am proud to see you turned into strong men of solid character.

Our official website is in development and 72 Acts of Kindness is working diligently to be a part of the world Colin wanted to help. Thank you all for joining us on our journey ❤️❤️

08/05/2026

A million Times, the title of a poem on grief that plays in my head on a loop. I’ve seen a few different versions, I’ve listened to it set to haunting music and very raw images. It has gotten me through some very difficult nights. One of those nights was yesterday evening. I’ve been able to prepare myself for some of my known triggers but the unexpected ones send me to a dark place. This dark place always takes control over my thoughts when it’s the still of the night and I’m trying to fall asleep.

There is a moment on November 23, 2024 that Colin even if for a second he knew he was going to die, he knew he was shot and he knew he would never see me, his brother or his father again. This haunts me all too often, and there are still many times I have to tuck myself in the fetal position to try and fall asleep. My husband has to sleep with earbuds every single night to calm the noise. To calm the panic. It’s the quiet that brings out the anxiety, your body goes into fight or flight mode even though you already know the outcome, you know Colin is at rest, he is not in any pain but the grief is so great your body reacts as if it’s happening right now. I don’t know if there will ever come a day a trigger doesn’t send us into this horrific spiral.

There are so many others I have met who know this feeling, they are people I have met because of our shared tragedies, our shared unimaginable loss. About one year ago a very lovely woman reached out to me because she suffered an immediate and unexpected loss of her young husband. She too had sons who played hockey in the area, she too was not prepared for the devastating loss, her life partner, her great love and the father of her children. We were two strangers suffering who needed to lean on each other. I have not lost my spouse and she has not lost a child but the familiarity of our grief has formed a friendship.

I know there are many who follow who have also lost and who suffer. This woman who I now call friend has started her own writing journey on grief, it’s called Beyond the First Goodbye and can be found on Substack and it might just help you, especially for those who have lost a spouse. Here is her substack link https://open.substack.com/pub/beyondthefirstgoodbye. She can also be found on Instagram .

I share what is meaningful to me, I share because it’s my therapy, I share because I don’t know who else is suffering in the quiet of the night and if I reach one broken heart and get them through the night well I can go to bed, tell Colin I love him and thank him for helping me to find the words.

07/30/2026

Working diligently on getting our non for profit up and running. This process takes me down an emotional road of memories of our sweet little boy. Last night I came across many of his little school notes he made for us. Colin was born with the truest and biggest of hearts.

Note 1: My family is worth more than gold because they give me everything.

Note 2: For Mother’s Day he wrote he had the best Mother’s Day ever and hoped I had a good time with him. I did buddy, I always did.

Note 3: I made him laugh, well my sweet Colin writing me a note and putting it in an envelope with “Tracey” on it definitely made me laugh.

Note 4: All he wanted for Christmas was to give another person a toy and for his Dad and I to be happy. Well, that and a nerf. He got the nerf and his Dad and I were always happy because our boys made us happy.

Go be kind today and if you heart compels you to, here is another wonderful young man doing great things by raising money to fight cancer.

07/20/2026

Lots to share, the weekend began with two wonderful 72 Acts of Kindness events. The first is really the Greg Holthaus foundation that we had a small part in by securing Affton Ice Rink. MCORE set up two locker rooms to provide heart screenings to help prevent sudden cardiac arrest that happens all too often to young athletes. The Greg Holthaus foundation then gifted Affton an AED to have at the ready at the rink. Later that evening the wonderful hockey programs of Twin Bridges and Illinois IceHawks had a charity event in which coaches of both teams played a rivalry game to raise funds for 72 Acts, Twin Bridges came out on top. Due to this game we saw a wonderful post from Libby who perfectly explained what it means to complete a kind act in the name of Colin. Thank you Libby!!!

We then woke up today to the devastating news. A second 08 St. Louis hockey player lost his very young life. Colin never played with Zach nor did he know him but he did play against him. I have to believe that Colin was waiting for him with open arms. We are so heartbroken, we know the difficult, life altering pain his parents are feeling. They will never be the same, we know they are not even able to breathe right now. If you have a hockey stick please put one out for Zach, we put ours out right next to Colin’s. My next big ask is to hold Zach’s family close in your heart and say some prayers. I know firsthand the love and warmth of the St. Louis hockey community, let’s be there for the Pruss family.

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