Every name has a story.
Ours belongs to a young man who made everyone around him feel seen.
Randolph County lost Tyler Franklin to a vehicle accident in 2024. What followed was an outpouring of stories from the people who knew him best. Tyler was known as a young man who paid attention, who showed up, and who made the people around him feel less alone.
His morning routine was always the same. On the way to school, he’d swing through the Bojangles drive-thru with his mom ordering two sausage biscuits and two Cheerwines. After he passed, one friend reached out to share what those mornings had really meant. Food wasn't always guaranteed for him at home, so Tyler quietly made sure he had breakfast. Never making it a big deal, just making sure his friend didn’t start the day hungry.
Another friend remembered how Tyler used to walk him to and from class. Not because he had to, but because he knew that with Tyler beside him, no one would give him a hard time. That was Tyler’s way. People who knew him say no one got picked on when he was around.
The Franklin family’s faith has been a guiding light through this journey, rooted in Galatians 6:2: “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” It’s a verse that shaped how they raised Tyler, and how they hope this foundation carries his example forward.
The Love Like Tyler Foundation is built to welcome and support every family in need, regardless of belief or background.
Tyler’s quiet reassurance could always be found on the other end of the phone. His friends have said it best. No matter how bad a day got, a call from Tyler could turn it around; his laugh, his voice, the way he always knew how to make someone smile. That support extended to silent nightly Facetime calls. A friend shared that she was afraid and slept with her door locked at night while staying on the phone with Tyler, knowing that if she ever needed help, he’d be there.
Tyler’s family couldn’t change what happened, but they could carry his example forward. In his lifetime, Tyler benefitted from mental health services and was fortunate that finances were not a barrier to care.
The Love Like Tyler Foundation was born from his legacy – a way of making sure that the kind of care Tyler gave so freely to those around him is available to young people in Randolph County regardless of their financial circumstances.
Our mission comes to life through our partnership with Asheboro Counseling and Wellness, who provide the mental health care our program helps fund. Together, we’re working to make sure cost is never the reason a child or family in Randolph County goes without the support they need.
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Here’s how we cover the cost of care and how to get started.
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