JANIE’S GOT A BIG CHECKBOOK
Tyler charity matches gifts to boost Youth Villages fund for excellent young women
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler surprised a crowd of philanthropic Bostonians with a special appearance at Youth Villages’ annual Young Women of
Excellence Breakfast yesterday — and his fellow fundraiser attendees were anything but j-j-jaded.
The rockstar graced groggy but eager eventgoers with his presence as the face of Janie’s Fund ,a nonprofit he founded that supports young women across the commonwealth who are taking part in Youth Village’s YVLifeSet program. And Tyler apparently didn’t show up empty-handed to the early morning shindig, which went down at The Colonnade
Hotel in the Back Bay. The famous guest came bearing a $108,000 donation from Janie’s Fund, a sum that matched the charitable contributions of everyone else at the affair.
“I have lived in Massachusetts and spent many years of my life in this amazing place,” Tyler said. “My band started here, I raised my family here, and it still feels like home when I’m back. It’s important to me to have a presence in Boston with my philanthropy.”
About 200 lucky guests witnessed Tyler address the crowd, which congregated to celebrate and recognize the young women who, through Youth Villages, have been making the transition from living in foster care to becoming successful adults.
In addition to Tyler, other speakers to take the stage included: local fashion blogger and personal stylist Tara West, who gave the keynote; Matthew Stone, executive director of Youth Villages Massachusetts and New Hampshire; and Richard Shaw, chief development officer of Youth Villages and Janie’s Fund Executive Council member.