Founding partner
The Tyler G.
Foundation.
We lost Tyler in January 2020. The foundation his family built in his memory funds the people and programs still fighting the disease that took him — through education, family resource programs, and direct funding for recovery.
Tyler Gwozdz
Son. Brother. Best friend.
Tyler had an energy that was infectious — you couldn’t help but notice when he entered the room. He made people laugh and feel included. He never met a stranger.
Tyler was open and honest about his struggles with addiction and his desire to fight the 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.
It’s in his memory that we help those still suffering from the same disease — and honor the impact Tyler had on every person who knew him.
His final act
One of ten.
Long before the disease took him, Tyler chose to be an organ donor. In his final act, he became one of only ten people in the United States to donate a heart through Donation After Cardiac Death. Three lives were saved that day — including Gregory, a veteran who served two tours in Iraq and is a father of two sets of twins.
The work
A timeline.
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2020
Tyler’s legacy begins.
Tyler dies in January at age 29. His family commits to carrying on the fight.
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2021
The Tyler G. Foundation is born.
Officially launched on Tyler’s birthday in Riverside, Connecticut. The mission: education, family resources, and recovery funding for those affected by addiction.
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2023
Greenwich Hospital partnership.
A three-year pledge to the Addiction Recovery Center, supporting comprehensive care that addresses the biological, psychological, and behavioral aspects of substance use disorder.
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2024
Joining Shatterproof.
A three-year pledge to Shatterproof, a national nonprofit reversing the addiction crisis across the United States.
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2021–25
Awareness, year over year.
Annual presence at the Greenwich Town Party. SoulCycle Greenwich (2021). The Works Charleston (2022). Ironman Wisconsin (2022) — Eric Phillips, a Trinity College teammate, raised $17,000 in Tyler’s name.
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2026
The inaugural Hillside.
02 May 2026 at The Bowery Hotel. 355 guests. The first of many.
Why this matters