If you’ve ever seen Imagine Dragons live, or even just watched a couple of their music videos, you’ve probably seen the name Tyler Robinson. It’s usually attached to a yellow logo or a heartfelt speech from lead singer Dan Reynolds. Tyler was the teenager whose battle with cancer didn't just touch the band; it literally changed the course of their career. But when people start digging into the history of the Tyler Robinson Foundation (TRF), a specific question always pops up: where did Tyler Robinson live exactly?
He wasn't from Las Vegas, despite that being the band’s home base.
The Utah Connection
Tyler Robinson lived in Utah, specifically in the town of South Jordan. He was a local kid, growing up in a tight-knit family that loved music. Honestly, it’s wild how a small-town kid from the Salt Lake Valley ended up becoming the face of a global movement. He was attending Bingham High School when his life took that sharp, unexpected turn.
Most people assume he was a Vegas local because that’s where the foundation is headquartered now. But Tyler’s roots were firmly in the mountain west of Utah. That’s where he was when he first heard "It's Time" on the radio. That’s where he was when he sent that first message to the band.
It’s easy to get confused because there is another Tyler Robinson currently in the news (a 22-year-old from Washington, Utah, involved in a high-profile legal case in 2025/2026). Let’s be clear: the Tyler Robinson who inspired the foundation passed away in 2013. They are two completely different people who happen to share a name and a home state.
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Why the Location Matters
You might wonder why it matters where he lived. Well, it’s about the "small club" era of Imagine Dragons. Back in 2011, before "Radioactive" was a diamond-certified hit, the band played a tiny show at Velour Live Music Gallery in Provo, Utah.
Tyler was there.
His brother, Jesse, had reached out to the band because Tyler was obsessed with their song "It's Time." He used the lyric "The road to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell" as his personal anthem while dealing with rhabdomyosarcoma, a brutal form of soft-tissue cancer. Because Tyler lived nearby, he could make it to that Provo show. That night, Dan Reynolds dedicated the song to him. They didn't just shake hands and leave; they became actual friends. They texted. They hung out.
From South Jordan to Las Vegas
After Tyler passed away at the age of 17, his family and the band decided that his name shouldn't just be a memory. They started the Tyler Robinson Foundation in 2013.
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While Tyler lived his life in Utah, the foundation eventually set up its main operations in Las Vegas, Nevada. This makes sense since the band is from Vegas and does a lot of their fundraising there, like the massive Rise Up Gala.
Today, if you look for the foundation’s "home," you’ll find it at 11700 W Charleston Blvd in Las Vegas. But the heart of the story remains in South Jordan, Utah.
The Legacy of a Teenager
Tyler’s life wasn't long, but it was loud. He was known for being the kid who would dance in the aisles of a concert even while carrying an oxygen tank or dealing with the exhaustion of chemo.
He lived in a suburban home with a family that refused to let the financial weight of cancer crush them, though they saw how it crushed others. That’s why TRF doesn’t focus on "finding a cure"—plenty of other great orgs do that. Instead, they focus on the "invisible" costs of cancer:
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- Rent and mortgage payments for families staying at the hospital.
- Utility bills that don't stop just because a kid is sick.
- Travel expenses for specialists.
Basically, they help families survive the "clouded hell" so they can focus on their child.
What You Can Do Now
If you’re looking to honor Tyler’s memory or support the mission he started from his home in Utah, here are the most effective ways to jump in:
Verify the Source
Make sure you are looking at the Tyler Robinson Foundation (trf.org). Don't confuse the legacy of the young man from South Jordan with other news stories from 2025/2026 involving people with the same name.
Support Local Families
The foundation provides grants specifically for non-medical expenses. You can donate directly on their site or check if your employer does a donation match. They’ve raised over $10 million since they started, and most of that goes directly to family grants.
The Rise Up Gala
Keep an eye out for the annual gala. It usually happens in Las Vegas (the 2025 event was a massive success at Resorts World). It’s the biggest fundraiser of the year and often features exclusive performances by Imagine Dragons.
Tyler Robinson lived in Utah, but his impact is everywhere. He proved that you don't need a long life to leave a permanent mark on the world.