How it all got started
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In 2004, knowing of Tyler's lifelong love of reading, several of his close friends and family initiated a "book project" to celebrate Tyler's 21st birthday. Fans across the country donated books to their favorite charities and wrote personal letters to Tyler telling him what books they chose and why they selected them. Tyler then received all of those letters in a scrapbook and pronounced it "the best birthday gift I have ever received."
In the Spring of 2005, a friend of Tyler's, who had won a house concert during a promotion for "The Tracks Of", added a new dimension to her "house concert". She, along with several long-time Tyler fans, made all types of Tyler memorabilia and auctioned them at the party. With Tyler, they raised $640 that afternoon. The money was sent to the Zamimpilo Orphanage in KwaMashu, South Africa and was earmarked for books. Tyler was thrilled and decided to make the fundraiser a yearly event. In 2006, he repeated the house concert. He also added a public concert at his alma mater, La Quinta High School. This time the money went to an elementary school in New Orleans devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Thanks to the contributions not only from local friends, family and fans across the country but also the involvement of several corporate entities, he raised over $5,000 to restock their library. T.H. Books for Kids was well on its way. |
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What does T.H. Books for Kids mean to Tyler?
1. Why do you think it’s so important for children to have access to books?
Reading gives kids a chance to expand the world that they know. It broadens their horizons, gives them perspective, and teaches them about others and themselves. It also gives them the tools for future self education and awareness. It also takes away the "you must read this" of school and gives them the "what interests you" choice that makes personal activities fun.
2. THBFK has been able to make some amazing contributions to schools that have been destroyed by hurricanes in New York and Louisiana. When you first formed the charity, did you have any idea that you would be able to make such an impact?
I really didn't. Of course I had hopes that were exceedingly high but were bordering on "wouldn't that be great" kind of dreams. When we did our first project, which I think was for an elementary school after Katrina I thought, oh my god, this is working and the kids are responding!
3. How does it feel once a project comes full circle and you are able to deliver books to a particular organization in need?
It's incredible. How many times can you point to something you've been a part of that has directly changed peoples lives, futures, and ultimately the world for the better? This works and there's not a lot of things that do. You hear it in the responses, you see it in the faces.
4. As the charity moves forward, do you have any particular goals you would like to accomplish?
I always thought it would be cool to be able to do some projects that get kids and schools involved in the actual helping of giving other kids in less fortunate situations access to books. I think it would be fun for them to see how lucky they are to have the access they have to libraries and text books.
Reading gives kids a chance to expand the world that they know. It broadens their horizons, gives them perspective, and teaches them about others and themselves. It also gives them the tools for future self education and awareness. It also takes away the "you must read this" of school and gives them the "what interests you" choice that makes personal activities fun.
2. THBFK has been able to make some amazing contributions to schools that have been destroyed by hurricanes in New York and Louisiana. When you first formed the charity, did you have any idea that you would be able to make such an impact?
I really didn't. Of course I had hopes that were exceedingly high but were bordering on "wouldn't that be great" kind of dreams. When we did our first project, which I think was for an elementary school after Katrina I thought, oh my god, this is working and the kids are responding!
3. How does it feel once a project comes full circle and you are able to deliver books to a particular organization in need?
It's incredible. How many times can you point to something you've been a part of that has directly changed peoples lives, futures, and ultimately the world for the better? This works and there's not a lot of things that do. You hear it in the responses, you see it in the faces.
4. As the charity moves forward, do you have any particular goals you would like to accomplish?
I always thought it would be cool to be able to do some projects that get kids and schools involved in the actual helping of giving other kids in less fortunate situations access to books. I think it would be fun for them to see how lucky they are to have the access they have to libraries and text books.