Colorado University Athletics
Soccer Spreading Kindness Through Rocks
February 12, 2026 | Soccer
BOULDER – Colorado midfielder Ava Priest knows what it's like to grow up in Boulder and imagine competing for the Buffaloes from a young age. She's also proof that it can happen.
Six-year-old Ellie Berg wanted to be like Ava. She wanted to be a Buff.
Ellie was a dedicated fan of CU's women's teams and frequently attended soccer and women's basketball games with her parents, Josh and Carly. Tragically, Ellie passed away in November 2023, but her impact continues to be felt through the Be Like Ellie Foundation.
For the second year in a row, the Colorado soccer team has teamed up with the Be Like Ellie Foundation to participate in the foundation's Heart Rocks drive. The Bergs and the Foundation have collected heart-painted rocks from people in the Boulder community and beyond and will spread them across the community on Feb. 14, to honor Ellie's Feb. 12 birthday.
"It's really important to be involved with the community," Priest said of the team's participation. "They have a really good message, and for me personally, I think it's something that really speaks to me. I was like Ellie. I used to come to the games, and I want nothing more than to spread her message and keep her story alive."
Last year, the foundation set a goal of collecting 212 painted rocks and ended up collecting nearly 500 from 15 states and five countries.
"Ellie loved CU, women's sports, and most of all, the CU soccer and women's basketball teams," Josh expressed. "They were her heroes. Having them take the time to honor her and spread kindness in her name means the world to us.
"When Ellie was five, after a CU soccer game, she turned to us and said, "I love coming to these games because every time I do, I learn something!' As parents, these student-athletes have always meant more to us than sports. We can't thank them enough for continuing to find a way to connect with our daughter and carry on her legacy of kindness."
All 19 Buffs on the current spring roster came together and painted rocks, each with its own uniqueness.
"I think it's a really great way to spread the message and get everyone involved," Priest added. "We all painted our rocks together. It's just spreading that kindness and finding joy in the little things in life."
The theme of kindness runs deep within the Colorado soccer program. In recent years, the team has sported warm-up shirts with the message "Be A Good Person" and has tried to embody that message on and off the pitch.
"Life is so short and each little moment counts," Priest expressed. "It's really like the little things, like just being kind to someone or saying something nice and being involved in our community. It means a lot and goes a long way."
For more information on the Be Like Ellie Foundation, please visit their website, BeLikeEllie.com
