Tyler Perry donates $1.4 million to charities amid government shutdown

Atlanta media mogul Tyler Perry has donated $1.4 million to various charities to help people who have lost government food benefits.

With delays this month to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Perry has given money to Atlanta Community Food Bank, Baby2Baby, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Caring for Others, All for Lunch, Ron Clark Academy and Goodr.

“If you’ve never been poor then you may not fully understand the life-changing impact SNAP benefits mean to hard-working people, to our seniors and to our children,” he told People magazine in a statement. “For millions of people, it could mean extreme hunger. For newborns, it could mean a lack of access to formula.”

Ron Clark, who started the private non-profit Ron Clark Academy in 2007 as an Atlanta incubator for fresh educational teaching ideas, said he will use Perry’s donation to cover SNAP benefits for any family whose children attend his school and need the help.

The SNAP delay impacts about 42 million Americans, including about 1.6 million Georgians.

Perry, who has spoken about being homeless and his own painful childhood trauma of rape and watching his father physically abuse his mother, often gives to charity without going public about it. But occasionally, he reveals his generosity.

Last year, he donated $400,000 to Atlanta actress Cocoa Brown after her house burned down. He also helped rebuild a home for a couple who were scammed by their contractor.