Honoring the Life and Spirit of Donald Randolph Brown III
Trey Loves You is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by the family of Donald Randolph Brown III — lovingly known as Trey — to carry forward his vision of compassion, connection, and unconditional love.
We are here to love, uplift, and inspire the most vulnerable among us.
We believe even the smallest act of kindness can change a life — because every person matters.
Who Trey Was
Trey was a remarkable sixteen-year-old with an extraordinary heart.
Known for his quiet compassion, his genuine care for others, and his unshakable belief in love — Trey didn’t just say the words. He lived them. He made people feel seen. He offered kindness without hesitation.
Whether it was a smile in the hallway, a thoughtful gift given quietly, or a kind word shared when it mattered most — Trey changed lives one person at a time.
He believed that love, even when unnoticed or unreturned, was the most powerful force on earth.
How Trey Loves You Began
In early 2023, during his sophomore year at Harvard-Westlake, Trey was quietly carrying a heavy emotional weight. But instead of turning inward, he turned toward others — especially teens who felt alone, unloved, or unseen.
During long drives with his dad, he shared a dream:
“I want to help people who are struggling like I was.”
He began dreaming up a nonprofit — brainstorming names, sketching out book ideas from his journals, and envisioning a place where anyone could feel accepted.
The name he returned to — the one that felt real and personal — was simple:
Trey Loves You.
“Because people need to hear it,” he said.
“Even if they don’t believe it right now.”
Why This Nonprofit Exists
Trey never got the chance to launch the foundation himself.
In June 2023, just after completing his ninth training session with Teen Line — a peer-led teen crisis hotline — Trey passed away. He had already logged nearly 30 hours of training and was preparing to take calls, ready to help others find their way through the darkness.
He didn’t just dream about helping.
He had already begun.
And so now, we — his family — are picking up where he left off.
Trey had the idea.
He had the name.
He had the heart.
This isn’t just something we’re doing for him.
It’s something he already started.
Why “Trey Loves You”
People often ask, “Why that name?”
The answer is simple:
Because it was already true.
Trey said “I love you” freely — in texts, phone calls, and quiet moments — to friends, to family, and to people who rarely heard it elsewhere.
Trey loved everyone — even those who didn’t love him back.
He believed that everyone deserves to feel loved — especially those who don’t believe it themselves.
After he passed, we remembered the name he had chosen.
It wasn’t just a name. It was his message.
A reminder. A promise. A mission.
Trey Loves You isn’t a slogan.
It’s the legacy of a boy who made people feel seen.
And it’s our promise to keep doing the same.
Who We Are
We are Trey’s family — his parents and younger siblings — and we’re committed to building the foundation Trey envisioned. To reaching the hurting. To reminding people they matter. To continuing the love he so freely gave.
We established Trey Loves You as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit on September 1, 2024.
All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Want to Know Trey?
This page isn’t the full story of Trey’s life.
It’s the beginning of the one he wanted to tell.
To truly understand who Trey was — the boy behind the mission — visit his personal memorial site:
There you’ll find photos, videos, journal entries, stories, and memories that paint a full picture of the son, brother, and friend who still inspires us every day.
Trey Is Who.
Trey Loves You.
And we do, too.
To anyone who feels unseen, unloved, or alone —
Trey’s message is now ours to carry forward.
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