OT: My Hat Is Off To Tyler Perry

[T-Bone]

I have to give this guy kudo's. It's one hell of a gesture to do this for these kids and says alot about a person.

Tyler Perry Sends Snubbed Kids to Disney World



Tyler Perry is playing Santa to 65 Pennsylvania children from a largely minority day-care center whose outing was axed when they were turned away by a predominantly white swim club.

Instead of wading in the waters of the so-called exclusive Valley Swim Club in suburban Philly – whose members feared an influx of the black and Hispanic children, the adults were quoted as saying – these kids are going to Disney World, with Perry paying for the works: airfare, food, hotel and admissions for the three-day visit.

"He wanted to do something nice for them and let them know that for every negative experience, there are people out there who want them to succeed regardless of the color of their skin," Keleigh Thomas, publicist for the producer and Madea Goes to Jail star, tells CNN.

"I am ecstatic for the children," said Alethea Wright, the Creative Steps day-care center director, adding that the Perry offer came through on Friday.

As Perry said on his Web site about the actions of the Valley Swim Club, "This made me so angry. This is awful, and for anyone that has grown up in the inner-city, you know that one small act of kindness can change your life."

He added about the children, "I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them. This is all about the kids."

[CatEyes]

Yes definately a cool thing.

It was very interesting to hear a spokesperson for the club say that the minority children "might change the complexion of the club"

Damn straight, Scooter!!!

Cat

[Suzanne]

VERY cool.

[Jubilee]

ACTUALLY.....the PRIVATE club received complaints from many of its members about the ridiculous and sudden influx of kids overpopulating the pool, so the group was given its money back. If you were managing a PRIVATE club and received complaints about a large rowdy group you'd probably do the same thing.

Some of the comments from the parents are terrible....but as a white kid who went through a school district that was 80% minority I can tell you that many blacks don't like whites in their "territory" either.

Actually, the PRIVATE club mishandled this whole matter, start to finish. If it was a simple matter of "overpopulating" the pool, the club should have taken that into account before they accepted the group (and their money). They knew how much space they had available, and what a comfortable occupancy rate would have been. If it was a matter of the group being "rowdy", I'm certain that as with many pools, there are rules regarding "horseplay". Have a talk with the adults accompanying the group and have the behavior corrected. If that doesn't work, then start throwing people out.

I understand this is a private club, and they have every right to decide their membership, but IMHO this was poorly handled and a PR nightmare.

Good on Tyler Perry, though. I'm a big fan of his work.

[brandonx76]

That's a start for repayment in lieu of all the horrible movies Tyler Perry continues to produce...

[Voyager]

It's pretty bad when the only Perry getting a thumbs up on a Journey forum is Tyler Perry.

[Since 78]

Well, at least one Perry is doing something.