TONAWANDA, N.Y. — Like many others preparing for Easter, Toni Kurzdorfer put out holiday decorations. Colorful eggs, bunnies — baskets with fake grass and candy inside.
But she and her father, Joe Smajdor, admit it's hard to find joy in all the trappings because of what happened to their family last year on Good Friday.
April 14, 2017 was the last time Toni saw her 15 year-old son Devin alive. He killed himself that night, after dealing with months of intense bullying.
"It's so painful to see what my daughter and my son-in-law (go through)," Joe tells Channel 2's Emily Lampa. "Every single day, something makes us remember."
"My daughters are turning 14 in a couple days," adds Toni. "It will be their first birthday without their brother. So it's going to be very hard for my daughters."
To get through the pain over the past several months, Joe and Toni immersed themselves in their mission. It's a foundation in her son's name, called Devin's Message.
"It's a whirlwhind," said Joe, "what in just 5 months, what we've accomplished."
The foundation recently got certified as a 501 C-3 Not for Profit Charity. They've already hosted a number of successful fundraising events and have two in the works for the summer.
All of this so that they can get their anti-bullying program into schools. They hope to give teens the tools and self-confidence to deal with bullies.
"No kid should go through what my kid was going through," said a tearful Toni. "And I know there's kids out there that are going through that. And it's very sad."
The money raised is also being made available as scholarships for students who act as positive role models in schools and help others who might be struggling with bullies.
"We're looking at it differently," explains Joe. "We're trying to build up the person who is being bullied because you're never going to stop all the bullies. You have to look at it the other way."
They tell us, so far, 5 school districts have shown interest in the program.
"It's very hard, as I go through schools," Joe tells Channel 2, "because it's so close to me, even though it's been a year. We're trying to prevent this in other families."
They're also reaching out to private schools.
"It's very hard, and it's very real." Toni says of the pain over losing her son the way she did. "And these kids need to understand."
"We're trying to make a difference," adds her dad.
Joe Smajdor says they contracted national speaker, Brooks Gibbs, to speak to students on April 18.
Right now they're looking for sponsors to help pay for his speaking costs.
One of the two charity tournaments planned for this summer has already been scheduled: a golf tournament on July 23, at Links at Ivy Ridge.
Students interested in applying for Devin's Message scholarships can click here.