Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler has helped build a shelter that welcomes girls who are victims of sexual and psychological abuse. He donated approximately US$ 500.000 to the Youth Villages institution.
The money came from Tyler’s foundation, the Janie’s Fund, a philanthropic initiative. The shelter was built in Memphis, United States and is already in operation.
The space is intended to help women and children with trauma as a result of abuse, whether mental, behavioral and / or emotional. There are 14 girls at a time and at the institution they have access to therapy, as well as professional help from lawyers in an attempt to overcome trauma.
Tyler wants, through Janie’s Fund, to raise awareness of this issue, as well as provide financial support:
“Ensuring that girls receive all the help they need to overcome the trauma and pain they carry because of any form of abuse,” he writes on the foundation’s website.
“This is good for my heart and soul,” Tyler told local news.
The singer already helped to create other shelters like this one before.
The foundation’s name
The name of the foundation cames from Aerosmith’s hit “Janie’s Got a Gun”, that according Tyler, he “got really angry that nobody was paying homage to those who were abused by Mom and Dad”.