Aerosmith's Steven Tyler launches Janie's Fund charity for child abuse victims

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has launched a new philanthropic initiative to raise money and awareness to help girls who have suffered sexual abuse.

The charity, Janie’s Fund, is named after Aerosmith’s 1989 song “Janie’s Got a Gun,” which tells the story of a girl who kills her abusive father.

In a statement on the Janie’s Fund website, Tyler writes, “Over the years, I’ve been overwhelmed by the thousands of fans who have sent me letters, telling me their stories and how ‘Janie’s Got a Gun’ affected and inspired them.”

The singer continues, “We can’t undo what’s been done by abuse in this country … but we can let these girls know they are loved, get them the help they need, and assure them that there is much light at the end of the tunnel.”

According to the Janie’s Fund website, donations will support experiential therapies incorporating art, music, and recreation and help provide extended care for young women aging out of foster care.

To kick off the charity efforts, Tyler is seeking donations via a Prizeo campaign, through which fans are eligible for rewards ranging from T-shirts to an extensive package including dinner with Tyler and a scarf-draped microphone stand (complete with working mic).