Bonnie Alaska Welch Children's Foundation

In January 2012, Bonnie Alaska Welch died of SIDS. Though she had been with her loving parents, Emma and Nate, for just six short weeks, Bonnie left an indelible imprint on their lives and those of countless others. As they struggled with their overwhelming grief and tried to make sense of their loss, Emma and Nate were gripped with thoughts of what could have been. Then, they began to wonder about what could be. What good could come from Bonnie’s short life?

Emma and Nate created the Bonnie Alaska Welch Children’s Foundation to honor their daughter and to share her legacy of love. This fund is dedicated to helping young people find the support they need to turn their lives around and to empower them in recovery and self-discovery. All donations go towards scholarships so adolescents and young adults can participate in Rites of Passage programs. No child in need of a wilderness therapy experience should be turned away. Bonnie’s memory lives on in her parents, and in the children who trek through the wilderness and find a positive new direction.