Filmmaker Tyler Perry Rescues Youth Center

ATLANTA—Tyler Perry will match an anonymous gift of $14,000 to save the Be Someone Youth Training Center in Georgia from closure, the nonprofit group announced on Dec. 20. Perry, a noted film and television director, writer, producer, and actor, promised to match a gift earmarked to perform urgent repairs on the building which holds Be Someone.

According to a press release from the nonprofit, Perry at first wanted his own gift to be anonymous. He later changed his mind, hoping his support might attract other donors to the group. Perry grew up in poverty, and experienced homelessness before becoming well known for his Madea comedy performances, in which he portrays a blunt, bold grandmother. He built a large studio in Atlanta, partly to create jobs, he said, and often gives to charities.

“We are training champions through the Be Someone program, and Mr. Perry has been our champion in our greatest time of need,” said Orrin "Checkmate" Hudson, founder of Be Someone, in a statement. “We are incredibly grateful and humbled by Mr. Perry’s tremendous gift as well as those of our other donors." Hudson told The Epoch Times that Jane Fonda was essential to launching Be Someone. "I thank God for Jane Fonda. She has a real commitment to youth, and she opened doors for me."

He had a brief connection with Donald Trump, who brought him on stage and introduced him at an event, saying "I like you." But since that time, he has not heard from Trump. "Will you tell him to call me?" he said.

The center would have had to close on Dec. 31 had it not been able to fund the $28,000 worth of repairs needed. Hudson said the anonymous donor gave him $14,000 on the condition that he raise the rest of the money.

Hudson founded Be Someone in 2001 to help poor young people develop into stable, competent citizens. He wrote in a blog post for the organization, “For too long we have given lip service for a change in our communities and it is time to GET IN THE GAME. If each one of us would make a commitment to the at-risk children in our own cities, a commitment to mentor and influence them in a positive way, real change can be accomplished.”

Hudson, a military veteran and former Alabama state trooper, wanted to offer something to help prevent young people from becoming criminals. He chose chess. He wrote that chess was invented to prevent war and violence. In his center, young people learn to play chess and receive mentoring and other kinds of support. He has ten regular volunteers, and needs both more volunteers and more donations.

To start the center, he sold his business and bought a house in his neighborhood. The house is in walking distance of three schools, and drug addicts were using it as a hangout. He said he told the addicts not to take drugs so near children, and one them told Hudson it was not his house, so he could not tell them how to use it. So he bought the house and created his after school center.

To learn more, please contact Info@besomeone.org.