Steven Tyler Holds 'Scarf-Cutting' Ceremony For His New Home For Abused And Neglected Memphis-Area Girls
Legendary Aerosmith frontrunner Steven Tyler used a trademark accessory used to wrap his microphone stands to officially herald the opening of a new facility that welcomes girls who are victims of neglect and abuse.
On Monday, the Grammy Award-winner conducted a scarf-cutting ceremony to open Janie's House in Memphis, Tennessee, inspired by the song, "Janie's Got a Gun"— the band's second single from their album Pump from 1989 with themes centered around child abuse and incest.
"This does my heart and my soul good," said the 70-year-old at the ceremony. "This is real."
Tyler's organization, Janie's Fund, which he founded in 2015, donated $500,000 towards renovating the home that will act as a safe space and offer therapy for young women who have been abused.
WATCH: Steven Tyler just opened a home for abused girls named "Janie's House," which was inspired by the 1989 Aeros… https://t.co/BqqGQfI2h7— CBS News (@CBS News) 1549399226
The origin for Janie's House has roots going back to when the singer was in treatment and witnessed first-hand the effects on abused victims. He felt an obligation to do something.
"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?"
Twitter agrees. His philanthropy rocks.
@CBSNews This! I want more of this type of news! Thank you @IamStevenT— Cats-R-Us (@Cats-R-Us) 1549400397
@CBSNews That is amazing StevenTyler . Thank you!!— margaret Smith (@margaret Smith) 1549400253
Fans were moved by Tyler channeling his personal healing to help others.
@CBSNews @dianemariereid It is amazing how much Tyler cleaned up his act.....He is an inspiration to anyone who has… https://t.co/qmMuCXIXNt— John (@John) 1549402759
@CBSNews @JaniesFund I applaud all of @IamStevenT efforts in creating a warm & welcoming environment, to help all f… https://t.co/iQgQU6dtQq— spring benavides (@spring benavides) 1549415473
@CBSNews @BudGothmog44 Yes I agree that even just helping one person makes you happy! Thank you Steven! This is so… https://t.co/CBJY5xUCUB— Rose 🌹 🇺🇲 (@Rose 🌹 🇺🇲) 1549402659
@dianemariereid @CBSNews yea, he does seem sincere when it comes to wanting to help others On a different note, he… https://t.co/JxOUQj4QV0— John (@John) 1549403039
@CBSNews Such an great cause...talk about turning your life around and helping others. Positive person!!— Lise J. Hunter (@Lise J. Hunter) 1549462347
How can you help? Look no further. You can visit the Janiesfund.org website and make a donation.
@CBSNews @JaniesFund Would love to find out a way to help with Janie's fund. It's an amazing cause. More of these h… https://t.co/iwcBbRDrBx— Tracey Taylor (@Tracey Taylor) 1549415474
@Trixiet01 @CBSNews @JaniesFund Here you go: https://t.co/1GGbvqtYoR— CALL: 202-224-3121 💙💛🇺🇦 (@CALL: 202-224-3121 💙💛🇺🇦) 1549418489
Tyler said "Janie's Got a Gun" took nine months to write, although he knew the title and melody of the song beforehand. He connected the song with child abuse after reading a Newsweek article on gun violence.
In the song, the girl shoots and kills her sexually abusive father, with the original lyrics changing from "He raped a little bitty baby," to "He jacked a little bitty baby," for commercial purposes.
"I got really angry that nobody was paying homage to those who were abused by Mom and Dad," he told Billboard.
This is the second Janie's House to open – after the first location in Atlanta – and can accommodate up to 14 girls until they're ready to return back to society. "It's God. Look at the sun," said Tyler at the scarf-cutting. "Just when the world seems over, you can turn into a butterfly."
Now that, my friends, is some "Sweet Emotion."