You might know Steven Tyler of Aerosmith as a world-famous musician. But in February of 2019, he made history in another way. He cut the scarf, as opposed to a ribbon, on a new home for women who’ve been abused or neglected.

Tyler, who heads up the foundation Janie’s Fund, donated $500,000 toward the opening of the charity.

He also donated some of his own artwork for the house.

“This does my heart and my soul good,” Tyler said. “This is real.”

The Youth Villages organization, which is a charity that works around the country, used the money to fix and open a Memphis building. It gives children with emotional, mental, and behavioral problems access to help.

Now, they’re teaming up with Tyler, an unlikely ally.

Tyler said he was inspired to start Janie’s Fund after his own struggles with substance abuse. While in rehab, he made friends and was struck by how many had experienced abuse.

“As you can only imagine, being in a band with guys for 50 years, you can have problems,” said Tyler. “And rather than quit, I decided to go to this treatment center for co-dependency. While I was there, all the girls I met had been abused either physically, mentally or verbally, or at least 90 percent of them all. So, when I got out of there, I laid it all on Janie. I said what are you going to do?”

The name of the charity comes from the Aerosmith song Janie’s Got a Gun, released in 1989.

Like many of the girls she now helps, Janie was abused by her father and began using drugs.

Of course, she was a fictional character. These women are 100 percent real.

Janie’s Fund primarily focuses on helping women who’ve been abused or neglected. The charity provides whatever tools they need to overcome the effects of abuse, whether mental, physical, emotional, or sexual.

But it also exists to raise awareness about abuse statistics.

An example is that one in four women has been sexually assaulted.

Upon arriving at Janie’s House, women attend counseling sessions. This helps them assess their needs and make plans for the future. The Memphis location, which is the second Janie’s House, hosts 14 women at a time. The first Atlanta location opened in 2017.

A 14-year-old resident named JaBrayia spoke at the opening of the Memphis house.

“The reason that I am at Janie’s House is because I experienced sexual abuse at the age of three,” she said. “Through Janie’s House, I can learn a lot about my past and learn I was not the only one that had been through the same problems.”

Tyler was there to cut a scarf to mark the opening of the home.

He says his work for women is far from over.

“I’m gonna bring this Janie’s Fund with me wherever I go,” he said. “It’s like a dream come true.”

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Source: Ronproject