Brandon’s Story

It was a Thursday. April 7, 2016 at 1PM. I heard a knock on the front door. Standing there were two police officers who looked at me and I knew. Just not which child. They said it was Brandon. He died in a car accident heading to work that day. In that instant, my life was changed forever. A knock on the door will never be the same.

I know I’m his Mom but Brandon was an uncommonly kind soul who I always felt was wise beyond his years. His mantra, at just twenty years old, was “Don’t Waste Your Life”. Little did Jon and I know the impact of those words in our lives and in a few short months, the Brandon Tolson Foundation would be born. Our lives had a new purpose – to bring a place of hope to others who have gotten that knock on their front door. In this healing place, we have found our son.
– Candi Tolson
President

Our Mission

The Brandon Tolson Foundation (BTF) was established to provide emotional support and financial relief to families who have lost a child. The foundation is committed to helping families through all aspects from the initial processes and planning, to forming bonds that will nurture a sense of healing and strength moving forward.

Vision/How We Do This:

BTF assists with the finances of funerals, burials and final resting details, lost wages and medical expenses, guidance with handling accounts/loans, resources for therapy, support meetings and gatherings and special ways to remember our children. The services that we provide are tailored to each family’s needs. We are able to do this because of the very generous support of our surrounding neighbors and community. We raise funds throughout the year, made possible by the enormous gift of our volunteers. We continue to seek to exceed the boundaries of how we can help alleviate the burden to these families who are now where we have been.

We are honoring Brandon’s mantra “Don’t waste Your Life” by transforming our personal grief into a mission of helping others restore hope and healing in their brokenness.