In Memory of Taylor "TJ" McKenzie

Campaign Info

Campaign Details
How Undue Works
FAQ
About Undue
More Campaigns

Share

On August 21, 2025, our beloved son and brother, Taylor ‘TJ’ McKenzie, passed away peacefully of natural causes, leaving behind a legacy of warmth and kindness.

Taylor was born in northwest Houston, where he spent his early childhood exploring the woods near home, swimming in the backyard pool, and enjoying family trips to the Texas Renaissance Festival and Galveston. He was a member of the Lakewood Forest swim team and the CyFair recreational soccer league, where he built friendships that lasted many years.

In grade school, Taylor’s family moved to Mt. Airy, Maryland, where he attended Twin Ridge Elementary. There he discovered a love for snowy winters, sledding and building forts, and excelled as a soccer goalie, earning the “Most Improved Player” award. The friendships he made there made leaving Maryland for Texas bittersweet.

After moving back to Georgetown, Texas, Taylor continued swimming and played both school and club tennis. He enjoyed the South San Gabriel River Valley and found joy in art, particularly tech theater, drawing, and sculpture, which he later pursued in college. As a member of Troops 151 and 64, he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, developing a lifelong love of camping, high adventure backpacking, and wilderness survival.

A 2010 graduate of Georgetown High School, Taylor went on to attend Austin Community College. He worked as a night manager at several Central Texas hotels, most recently with IHG in Salado, and later spent several years at Cap City/Gotham City Online creating graphic t-shirts and posters. His most recent position was with Auctane/ShipStation in the mailroom.

Taylor’s greatest passion was gaming. He was an avid Dungeons & Dragons player and Dungeon Master, running multiple weekly campaigns with stories so detailed that fellow players eagerly sought him out. He was even invited to be a Dungeon Master at an Austin gaming convention. Taylor also loved Magic: The Gathering, building and playing at least a dozen decks with friends and the local community at Bell’s Gaming Center and Game Kastle in the greater Austin area. His prized “Dragon” deck was his pride – and its contents remain a secret. Beyond tabletop games, Taylor’s love for imagination and role-play extended to Renaissance festivals, where he could often be found at Sherwood Forest in McDade and Texas RenFest in Magnolia, proudly donning his wizard’s hat and staff.

Taylor will be remembered for his kindheartedness, warm demeanor, and generous spirit. He had a deep love for storytelling and adventure, whether exploring the worlds of Fallout 76, building intricate Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, or immersing himself in mythology and Egyptian culture. He was also a creative cook who enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen, especially with his ever-growing collection of hot sauces. Those who knew him best will remember not only his knowledge and passions, but also the way he made others feel welcomed and included.

Taylor is survived by his father, Philip, and his mother, Gail; his two brothers, Joel and Logan; his sister-in-law, Sadie; and his beloved niece, Natalie. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Stephania McKenzie, and Harold and Anita Neilsen.

Campaign Support Recipients

Nationwide

Campaign donations will show on website within 1 business day of gift submission.

How Undue Works

Over a hundred million Americans, one in three, struggles with the weight of medical debt.

Who We Help

Debt Resources

You make a donation
- We use data analytics to pinpoint the debt of those most in need: households that earn less than 4x the federal poverty level (varies by state, family size) or whose debts are 5% or more of annual income.
Undue buys medical debt at a steep discount
- We buy debt in bundles, millions of dollars at a time at a fraction of the original cost. This means your donation relieves about 100x its value in medical debt.
Together we wipe out medical debt
- People across the country receive letters that their debt has been erased. They have no tax consequences or penalties to consider. Just like that, they’re free of medical debt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes. We are a 501(c)(3) charity and your donation is 100% tax deductible.

Who qualifies for medical debt relief?

We provide debt relief based on financial need. To qualify, an individual must either:

Earn at or below 400% of the federal poverty level
Have medical debt that exceeds 5% of their income

These criteria are built into our system and apply to all debt we purchase. We do not collect or require information about immigration status. We also cannot target relief based on medical condition, age, or other personal characteristics.

We never collect on the debt we purchase, only relieve it.

Do recipients of debt relief have any adverse consequences?

No. With your help, we abolish medical debt permanently. Recipients have no adverse tax consequences, obligations or strings attached.

Medical debt relief is a gift from a detached and disinterested third party (Undue) as an act of generosity, so relief of the debt does not count as income to the debtor. We will not file a Form 1099-C with the IRS.

Can donors see whose debt is relieved by their donation?

Due to HIPAA laws, Undue Medical Debt cannot disclose the names, contact information or any other specific details of the debt relief beneficiaries.

Can I apply for debt relief?

Undue Medical Debt cannot relieve debt by individual request.

While we would love to help everyone who needs assistance, Undue cannot abolish medical debt for specific individuals. We acquire large, bundled portfolios of debt to help thousands of people at once and we can only erase debts that providers like hospitals and physicians are willing to sell to us.

Because medical debt affects so many people who may not have debt accounts in the portfolios we purchase, we have compiled a list of resources that may be able to help.

About Undue

Undue Medical Debt is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit which leverages donations to buy large, bundled medical debts at steep discounts, providing immediate, no strings attached relief to financially vulnerable families. On average one dollar donated erases $100 of medical debt. We also help people with medical debt share their stories, which informs our approach to fixing the healthcare system, whether by policy solutions or collaborating with likeminded partners.