Tyler Perry quietly donates $750,000 to low-income seniors in Atlanta proving he has a heart of gold
Tyler Perry, who is known for giving back to his community, once made a whopping $750,000 donation to help low-income seniors in Atlanta. The donation was primarily aimed at bringing some relief to elderly residents as property costs continue to increase. Seniors living on fixed wages were forced to move, given the rise in property taxes. This broke Perry's heart.
As reported by CBS News, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens shared, "Atlanta's growth and prosperity should not come at the expense of our legacy residents—many of whom have been priced out of their homes in previous years.” As reported by Fox 5, he added, “Tyler Perry has been engaged in our ongoing conversations around legacy resident retention, and he told me he wanted to do something to support these efforts. Thanks to his generosity, more Atlantans will be able to remain in the communities they built." The $750,000 donation helped cover overdue property taxes for over 300 low-income seniors.
This wasn’t a one-time gift. Alongside the initial sum, Perry also promised to donate $500,000 annually for the next five years to help 100 low-income Atlanta seniors with rising property taxes for the next 20 years. According to sources, the recurring support is intended to cover the gap between the present cost and whatever hikes the future brings, ensuring stability, as reported by People magazine. The funds are being managed by Invest Atlanta Partnership, the city’s nonprofit focused on economic development, as per the sources. The organization’s goal is to increase opportunities and the overall livelihood of the people of Atlanta.
Perry, dedicated to giving back, has launched numerous charitable efforts over the years. In 2009, for instance, he founded The Tyler Perry Foundation, which backs a diverse array of global initiatives. During the pandemic, Perry also helped pay the grocery bills of senior citizens and vulnerable shoppers at around 73 stores in Atlanta and New Orleans. In 2021, Perry was hence honored with the prestigious Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award by the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the Oscars, as reported by People magazine.
While receiving the award, the actor said, "You know, when I set out to help someone, it is my intention to do just that. I'm not trying to do anything other than meet somebody at their humanity." He shared a story about how he once met a homeless woman who, instead of asking for money, simply wanted a pair of shoes. He said, "It stopped me cold because I remember being homeless and having one pair of shoes, and they were bent over at the heel." Perry took the woman to the studio where he was working and led her to the wardrobe department so she could pick a pair of shoes.