Movie mogul Tyler Perry cuts a personal check for $45,000 to help an emergency shelter for homeless teens in metro Atlanta stay open.

Perry saw a story on Channel 2 Action News about Young People Matter that was being forced to close.  He interrupted party planning for his 45th birthday to deliver the check in person.  Perry even visited with some of the children at the shelter.

The money will allow the shelter to stay open through the end of the year, and until their new federal funding comes through.

Simone Joy opened the emergency overnight shelter for teens in 2007 with the expectation of serving 100 teens each year.  The shelter has served more than 2,000.

Joy tells Channel 2 Action News getting the donation is "surreal," and says she's still "in awe."  Joy says Perry "has been the greatest blessing in all of our lives."

Now that the shelter can remain open, Joy says she's hoping to form other partnerships and to expand their capacity from seven to 18 beds.

Last month, a civilian redevelopment agency voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with Perry that calls for the filmmaker to buy about two-thirds of the Fort McPherson property in south Atlanta for a studio.