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TFSnewsRoom/AccessAtlanta.com
Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:34 AM
Tyler Perry lets his inner Madea loose on Philly swim club
10:32 am July 21, 2009, by Richard Eldredge
![[linked image]](http://blogs.ajc.com/peachbuzz/files/2009/07/buzzperry0509-225x300.jpg)
Atlanta filmmaker Tyler Perry.
Atlanta director Tyler Perry has taken time away from the local shoot of gWhy Did I Get Married Too?h to donate a trip to Disney World to the Philadelphia day camp Creative Steps Inc.
Youfll recall the black and Hispanic children from the camp made headlines this month after officials at the suburban Philadelphia Valley Swim Club denied them entrance to the private pool and publicly worried the water wings-sporting small fry would gchange the complexionh of the facility.
This week, the folks at Creative Steps announced that 65 kid campers will be going to Disney World, thanks to a donation from Perry.
gThis made me so angry,h Perry writes on his website. hI saw a little boy on the news crying his eyes out. Here is this kid talking about being kicked out of the Valley Swim Club outside Philadelphia because he was black. Did you hear me? I said, eNo way, this canft be! Itfs 2009. I donft believe this!f But, I know it happens even in this year of Obama. . . I went from being mad to being furious.h
Perry contacted the day camp and spoke with director Alethea Wright about making the donated trip to Florida. Wright in turn tells the Associated Press shefs thrilled by Perryfs generosity, especially given that the director gcomes from humble beginnings.h
The owner of Tyler Perry Studios in southwest Atlanta (who is currently listed at No. 30 on Forbes magazinefs gCelebrity 100 list and, according to the biz mag, earned an estimated $75 million in 2008) went on to explain to fans:
gSince you all have put me in the position to be able to do something I feel like by me doing this we are all doing it together. So on Aug 1 through 3, Ifm sending these kids to Disney World, and then to a Disney water park. 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. So, thank you for letting me do this.
And do me a favor please. When you see these kids coming through the airport, (Ifm sure you wonft be able to miss them. I imagine they are going to be super excited) letfs show them a whole lot of love and respect. Show them that they are just as good as anyone else. And show them that they can do or be anything they want to be no matter what any one says!h
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