Today we’d like to introduce you to Tilly Levine.
Tilly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was 23 years old when I moved to the United States. I arrived with my ex-husband, Hezy Shaked, and everything we owned fit in just one suitcase. Plus, we had absolutely no family here. Basically, all we had was a strong work ethic, a tiny bit of English, and a lot of positivity. We both shared a little studio apartment, working odd jobs and selling children’s toys and clothes at a local swap meet.
Eventually, we saved up enough money to open our first Tillys store in 1982. Today I’m proud to say there are over 200 locations around the country. With my incredible success, I’ve always felt a powerful sense of gratitude and a need to give back to my community. After a couple of different approaches to philanthropy, supporting the Boys and Girls Town, Boys & Girls Club, Casa Youth Shelter, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, I decided to focus my efforts on the mental health struggles that today’s teens face and Tilly’s Life Center was born.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t think it’s ever a smooth road, but that’s part of life and how we learn from our challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was going through a divorce. We had to figure out how to keep the business together, maintain a family, not place blame, look for solutions and all while staying positive during a very challenging time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tilly’s Life Center?
Tilly’s Life Center a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire today’s youth to reach their full potential as productive, kind, happy, and responsible individuals.
Today’s teens are in crisis. Every day they are faced with challenges like depression, suicide, anxiety, substance abuse and school violence, among many others. We’re here to change that. Tilly’s Life Center (TLC) is aimed at empowering all teens with a positive mindset and enabling them to effectively cope with crisis, adversity and tough decisions.
Teens today are facing issues like no other generation before them, and the statistics are staggering: 20% of teens have seriously considered suicide, 9% have made an attempt to take their lives, and just under half of the adolescents reported experiencing some mental health disorder at some point in their lives. This is a crisis. Our youth are anxious, isolated, unable to cope, and afraid. This is why TLC takes a proactive and preventive approach to the growing social and emotional issues affecting teens today. The TLC program equips youth with the life skills and coping techniques they need to combat these pressures and grow into healthy adults.
How do you think about happiness?
It makes me happy to see that our new generation will be in a better place and create a better world with less negativity and more kindness and teamwork.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tillyslifecenter.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tillyslifecenter/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tillyslifecenter/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/TillysLC
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TillysLifeCenter
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/tillyslifecenter/
Image Credits
Tilly’s Life Center
