***FINAL UPDATE***
Hello All,
I write final update with heaviness and hope in my heart. Heaviness because I gave a Jan 1 deadline to hold out hope for Tiger aka Whitley to resurface and for him to return to his journey of finding a better life. It has been months since he disappeared and - sadly - my hope is that possibly he was just overwhelmed by outpouring of love and not that something bad had befallen him. As most of you know we had a birthday and Tiger and it seemed like a turning point - he had job offers, state help was set to come in both for housing/living and medical the next week. Then just as he appeared on day... He was gone. Since then his mother has called all the hospitals and police to see if we could find any information there - nothing. I have gotten countless leads and sightings for which I rushed over to find that it wasn't Tiger but some other young man on the streets. Sadly, I still hold out hope that one day he will come back but at this point it feels very bleak. Sadly, from day one I knew this might be the outcome, and many of you loving people seeing the time and money spent by me and others reminded me this could come to pass. Never the less it is still very tough to accept that which you know is probably so. At some point I had to move on and make decisions of what to do with all the goods/funds donated for Tiger and it has been a struggle, I kept thinking "what if the day after he returns" - life is funny that way sometimes. However, I feel I have discovered a great avenue for this, much thanks to Rachel for making me aware of this amazing organization. "Extraordinary Families" seeks to support kids that are homeless, in foster care and in situations that puts them on a trajectory towards a life on the street. I have had a meeting with one of the directors and I feel the remaining resources for Tiger would be best suited to be given to this organization. Not only that but they have offered that if Tiger does resurface they will use their program (despite him being older) to help him. I feel this is the best thing to do and it keeps the original goal and the spirit of the original goal. Regardless, of it feeling like a failure as a goal to help Tiger - I console my own disappointment by remembering that Tiger did benefit for months and he felt the outpouring of support and love from never having to worry about food, to warm clothes and goods/services, a warm bed to sleep and even his firth birthday party in years... It is said the journey is the destination, so I will chose to focus on our brief journey together where we all helped Tiger see a better life off the streets if not for good, for a time and maybe that in the long run will help him get back to a life he wants. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments or concerns. Starting in Dec I will be sending all items to Extraordinary Families and on Jan 2 I will make the financial donation official.
https://www.extraordinaryfamilies.org
=======================================================================================================
#HelpTiger - ***UPDATES @ THE BOTTOM***
I live in Studio City CA, with in a block of my home I have neighbors who are wealthy international movie stars and I have neighbors who sleep in the cold, have no income and are battling despair daily. A couple weeks ago I decided to approach one such neighbor and offer some food - and I made a new friend... Tiger.
Whitley "Tiger" Burton is a charming, intelligent and funny guy, just 29 years old. You can meet him thru the video below. At that point I started thinking, what if just 20 or so of my neighbors committed to try... really trying... to help Tiger get back on his feet. So I reached out, and the response was amazing... And it still is amazing!
Yes, I am aware of the unseen issues and obstacles of helping homeless, I have no delusion nor do I think myself some great savior. But what I do have is a great hope and respect for my fellow humans both housed and unhoused. Nothing happens when you don't try, but there is a history filled with amazing accomplishments when people DO TRY.
So I decided to try. One person, at a time.
Initially, I was just going to do this by myself, then people wanted to help, then people asked for avenues to donate - so I am starting this gofundme. But just know reading this and sending prayers, thoughts or positivity is help too! Please share this - if nothing else to humanize people on the street that you see that you might not realize how much like you they are.
We are working on getting shelter, counseling, work etc. That is all in the works, we appreciate all recommendations - but know we are working hard and have already reached out for temporary housing. This effort is sort of in hopes to fast track the process and also to make a nest egg for when he leaves the temp housing to have a cushion - money for education - further therapy - and eventually possibly to pay it forward to someone else in need!
More than monetary donations we are seeking a mentor in the music industry as Tiger would like a career in sound engineering and producing. So please forward this to anyone who maybe interested in helping.
Thank you for your time and thoughtfulness.
*****************************************************UPDATES****************************************************************
UPDATE:
5/6/21 - Tiger is doing great! We went shopping today for some clothes, visited some future housing opportunities, had a great meal and then moved into his room - with the great help of LA Family Housing.
4/29/2021 - Today was a great day... Tiger was able to gain access (on his own) to a shower and facilities to clean up. Some amazing people at an homeless advocacy agency have found Tiger a hotel room starting tomorrow morning. The generous donations of today and yesterday are simply amazing and will go a long way to helping start a new life. Additionally, the team of people donating stuff such as a phone/service for 6 months, ipad, back pack, skate board etc - are amazing! So excited for this young man's future!
AMAZING - had to add to the update... Thanks to (Teresa, sorry didn't know if you want your full name - but had to say something) one amazing person getting the word out - we are ALREADY AT THE GOAL! This coupled with the aid we are getting for housing - this money is going to go a long way to helping him start a new life on the right foot with the cushion and freedom that really helps.
***I understand the obstacles that come with helping people get off the streets, often there are aspects not even the most trained professionals can see - that can/will derail someone getting back on their feet. Although hopeful, I recognize that despite best faith efforts I may fail, but I am willing to give everything to try - and I am hopeful - as are the many people helping me. With that said in the event that circumstances arise that will prohibit the distribution of these funds directly to the effort to help Tiger - we will donate the money to Hope of the Valley "Tiny Homes" project - I will contact all donators prior to doing so to get feedback and make sure that they do not wish for a refund or if they opt to have the money go to another program or if we can identify another individual who needs immediate help. (sorry for the crazy run on)***
Hello All,
I write final update with heaviness and hope in my heart. Heaviness because I gave a Jan 1 deadline to hold out hope for Tiger aka Whitley to resurface and for him to return to his journey of finding a better life. It has been months since he disappeared and - sadly - my hope is that possibly he was just overwhelmed by outpouring of love and not that something bad had befallen him. As most of you know we had a birthday and Tiger and it seemed like a turning point - he had job offers, state help was set to come in both for housing/living and medical the next week. Then just as he appeared on day... He was gone. Since then his mother has called all the hospitals and police to see if we could find any information there - nothing. I have gotten countless leads and sightings for which I rushed over to find that it wasn't Tiger but some other young man on the streets. Sadly, I still hold out hope that one day he will come back but at this point it feels very bleak. Sadly, from day one I knew this might be the outcome, and many of you loving people seeing the time and money spent by me and others reminded me this could come to pass. Never the less it is still very tough to accept that which you know is probably so. At some point I had to move on and make decisions of what to do with all the goods/funds donated for Tiger and it has been a struggle, I kept thinking "what if the day after he returns" - life is funny that way sometimes. However, I feel I have discovered a great avenue for this, much thanks to Rachel for making me aware of this amazing organization. "Extraordinary Families" seeks to support kids that are homeless, in foster care and in situations that puts them on a trajectory towards a life on the street. I have had a meeting with one of the directors and I feel the remaining resources for Tiger would be best suited to be given to this organization. Not only that but they have offered that if Tiger does resurface they will use their program (despite him being older) to help him. I feel this is the best thing to do and it keeps the original goal and the spirit of the original goal. Regardless, of it feeling like a failure as a goal to help Tiger - I console my own disappointment by remembering that Tiger did benefit for months and he felt the outpouring of support and love from never having to worry about food, to warm clothes and goods/services, a warm bed to sleep and even his firth birthday party in years... It is said the journey is the destination, so I will chose to focus on our brief journey together where we all helped Tiger see a better life off the streets if not for good, for a time and maybe that in the long run will help him get back to a life he wants. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, comments or concerns. Starting in Dec I will be sending all items to Extraordinary Families and on Jan 2 I will make the financial donation official.
https://www.extraordinaryfamilies.org
=======================================================================================================
#HelpTiger - ***UPDATES @ THE BOTTOM***
I live in Studio City CA, with in a block of my home I have neighbors who are wealthy international movie stars and I have neighbors who sleep in the cold, have no income and are battling despair daily. A couple weeks ago I decided to approach one such neighbor and offer some food - and I made a new friend... Tiger.
Whitley "Tiger" Burton is a charming, intelligent and funny guy, just 29 years old. You can meet him thru the video below. At that point I started thinking, what if just 20 or so of my neighbors committed to try... really trying... to help Tiger get back on his feet. So I reached out, and the response was amazing... And it still is amazing!
Yes, I am aware of the unseen issues and obstacles of helping homeless, I have no delusion nor do I think myself some great savior. But what I do have is a great hope and respect for my fellow humans both housed and unhoused. Nothing happens when you don't try, but there is a history filled with amazing accomplishments when people DO TRY.
So I decided to try. One person, at a time.
Initially, I was just going to do this by myself, then people wanted to help, then people asked for avenues to donate - so I am starting this gofundme. But just know reading this and sending prayers, thoughts or positivity is help too! Please share this - if nothing else to humanize people on the street that you see that you might not realize how much like you they are.
We are working on getting shelter, counseling, work etc. That is all in the works, we appreciate all recommendations - but know we are working hard and have already reached out for temporary housing. This effort is sort of in hopes to fast track the process and also to make a nest egg for when he leaves the temp housing to have a cushion - money for education - further therapy - and eventually possibly to pay it forward to someone else in need!
More than monetary donations we are seeking a mentor in the music industry as Tiger would like a career in sound engineering and producing. So please forward this to anyone who maybe interested in helping.
Thank you for your time and thoughtfulness.
*****************************************************UPDATES****************************************************************
UPDATE:
5/6/21 - Tiger is doing great! We went shopping today for some clothes, visited some future housing opportunities, had a great meal and then moved into his room - with the great help of LA Family Housing.
4/29/2021 - Today was a great day... Tiger was able to gain access (on his own) to a shower and facilities to clean up. Some amazing people at an homeless advocacy agency have found Tiger a hotel room starting tomorrow morning. The generous donations of today and yesterday are simply amazing and will go a long way to helping start a new life. Additionally, the team of people donating stuff such as a phone/service for 6 months, ipad, back pack, skate board etc - are amazing! So excited for this young man's future!
AMAZING - had to add to the update... Thanks to (Teresa, sorry didn't know if you want your full name - but had to say something) one amazing person getting the word out - we are ALREADY AT THE GOAL! This coupled with the aid we are getting for housing - this money is going to go a long way to helping him start a new life on the right foot with the cushion and freedom that really helps.
***I understand the obstacles that come with helping people get off the streets, often there are aspects not even the most trained professionals can see - that can/will derail someone getting back on their feet. Although hopeful, I recognize that despite best faith efforts I may fail, but I am willing to give everything to try - and I am hopeful - as are the many people helping me. With that said in the event that circumstances arise that will prohibit the distribution of these funds directly to the effort to help Tiger - we will donate the money to Hope of the Valley "Tiny Homes" project - I will contact all donators prior to doing so to get feedback and make sure that they do not wish for a refund or if they opt to have the money go to another program or if we can identify another individual who needs immediate help. (sorry for the crazy run on)***