Rock and Roll and Songwriters halls of fame member Steven Tyler was the surprise guest at a fundraising breakfast in late October, bringing with him a $108,000 matching donation from Janie’s Fund that will change the lives of young women in the commonwealth.
Tyler appeared at Youth Villages Massachusetts’ annual Young Women of Excellence Breakfast at The Colonnade Hotel in Boston. Approximately 200 guests attended the event that raised over $200,000 and celebrated the success of young women in the YVLifeSet program who are aging out of foster care.
This most recent gift brings the total invested by Janie’s Fund to help girls in Massachusetts to over $400,000 since 2016.
“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.”
Tyler established Janie’s Fund in 2015 to provide hope and healing for many of our country’s most vulnerable girls who have survived the trauma of abuse and neglect. Janie’s Fund is also supporting YVLifeSet services for young women in North Carolina, Tennessee and New York City.
“Through Janie’s Fund, I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact YVLifeSet can have on the lives of young women who have aged out of the system but still need the support through after care,” Tyler said. “I’ve met them, heard their voices and watched them recover and go on to do great things. I’m excited to be a part of helping this program expand to help young women in Massachusetts.”
“Steven’s presence caused real excitement in the room and his generosity helped to set a record for funds raised at our annual event,” said Katherine Dilly, director of development for Youth Villages Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
“We are so grateful for Steven’s years of support for YVLifeSet. Janie’s Fund is truly changing the lives of young women in Massachusetts for the better,” Dilly said.
Speakers at the event included Kayla, a young woman currently participating in YVLifeSet; Richard Shaw, chief development officer of Youth Villages and Janie’s Fund Executive Council Member; keynote Tara West, an independent personal stylist and consultant, and Matthew Stone, executive director of Youth Villages Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The program also featured a video, “Kendra’s Story,” which profiled a young woman who, with the help of YVLifeSet, overcame trauma from neglect and abuse to become a successful college student with career goals.