About Us: The Tyler G Foundation
The Tyler G Foundation is dedicated to helping those suffering from addiction by increasing local education initiatives, facilitating family resource programs and financing addiction recovery.
The devastation and heartbreak caused by addiction is sadly becoming a reality for too many families across the United States. As the epidemic of this disease continues to spread, we recognize the need for increased education and support.
The Tyler G Foundation was established in loving memory of our brother, son, friend and role model. It is our hope that this foundation can help, in any way, to lessen the impact of addiction for families like ours in the future.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, we’re #StillHere for you.
Tyler was our son, brother, and best friend.
From the day he was born, he was a fearless, confident child who excelled in any and all activities he tried – especially sports.
He loved to compete, he loved his friends, and he loved his town and his community. More than anything, Tyler loved his family. As the oldest of five siblings, he took his role as big brother very seriously and took immense pride in the success of his younger brothers and sisters. Tyler had an energy that was infectious, and you couldn’t help but notice when he entered the room. He made people laugh and feel included; he truly never met a stranger.
At the start of his Junior year on the Greenwich High School Varsity Football team, Tyler was enjoying what should have been a great season as a linebacker. Unfortunately, he suffered a shoulder injury which required major surgery, and with that surgery came a bottle of painkillers. Like too many before him, and unfortunately too many after him, this was when Tyler unknowingly began his year’s long battle with the disease of addiction.
This was the life-altering turning point.
While he continued to make friends, excel in his academics and athletics, and go on to find success in the business world, he also was fighting a constant battle. His enemy was an ever-present, invisible, unrelenting foe for which he had no recon, no air cover, and no other soldiers in his battalion.
This was a one soldier fight.
And yet, Tyler was open and honest about his struggles with addition and his desire to fight this disease. He confided in his family and friends about his good days and bad days, and no matter what, he fought for the energy and fortitude to persevere in his exhausting battle. Tyler kept a journal where he would document his fight, his hopes and dreams, and whatever was challenging him or what he was grateful for each day.
The most recurring theme in this journal – and in his life – was his desire to use his time on this earth to help others.
When we lost Tyler to an overdose in January of 2020, we were heartbroken and numb. But we knew that his work wasn’t done. We knew that if Tyler were here, he would want us to continue the fight and carry on his mission of helping others.
It is from his love, his selflessness, and his compassion that the Tyler G. foundation was born.
We started this foundation not only to help others who are suffering from the disease of addiction, but also to honor the incredible impact that Tyler had on our lives and the countless people he helped and inspired along the way.
Many years ago, Tyler opted to become an organ donor – and in his final act on this earth he saved the lives of three complete strangers. Tyler made history, and along with donating his kidneys and liver, he became one of only ten people in the U.S. to ever donate a heart in a procedure called Donation after Cardiac Death.
Right now, Tyler’s heart is beating, bringing life to this world and reminding us all that we can still make a difference.
