GoFundMe Launched In Honor Of Greenwich 'Bachelorette' Contestant

GREENWICH, CT — The family of former Greenwich resident and "The Bachelorette" contestant Tyler Gwozdz is raising funds for drug addiction recovery through a GoFundMe campaign, following the 29-year-old reality star's sudden death last month.

According to the page's description, the Gwozdz family is "overwhelmed by the support and love shown by everyone" following the recent tragedy.

On Jan 13, police in Boca Raton, Fla, said Gwozdz was hospitalized following a "medical overdose," NBC News reports. He died on Jan. 23 in Palm Beach County after spending a week in an intensive care unit, according to police.

Producers of the "Bachelor" franchise told NBC they were "heartbroken" over the tragic news and offered their condolences to the Gwozdz family.

"We are also at a loss for words over the sudden passing of Tyler," the GoFundMe page reads. "The devastation and heartbreak caused by addiction is unfortunately becoming a reality for too many families across the United States as the epidemic of this disease continues to spread."

In response, the family has established the Tyler A. Gwozdz Foundation, a charitable organization created to "increase local education on the disease of addiction" and support addiction recovery programs.

"It is our hope that this foundation can help, in any way, to lessen the burden of addiction for families like ours in the future," the page reads.

In lieu of flowers, the the family asks those looking to honor Gwozdz to donate to the GoFundMe campaign as they work to incorporate the foundation. As of Tuesday afternoon, the page has raised over $113,000 toward a $150,000 goal through the generosity of nearly 600 donors.

"Once the foundation is incorporated all funds collected will be transferred to the foundation," the page reads.

Gwozdz was a contestant on season 15 of "The Bachelorette," which aired last year on ABC. According to his "Bachelorette" biography page, he was a psychology graduate student with a side business in dream therapy analysis.

"Tyler G. is a very laid-back guy with a go-with-the-flow kind of attitude," the bio reads. "He avoids clubs at all costs and would much rather spend time reading, going to Soul Cycle or relaxing on his boat."

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