Magic Maker Tyler Youtz
By Noah Sharfman
November 24, 2009
Tyler Youtz has experienced things most people don’t experience during a lifetime. He started his own company. Wrote his own book. Defeated a bout with cancer.
And, he is only nine years old.
At the age of four, Youtz was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, stage IV neuroblastoma. He underwent a grueling year of treatment, which included radiation, chemotherapy, bone marrow treatment and hair loss. But after a grueling year, the resilient five-year-old emerged cancer free.
As if battling cancer wasn’t enough to think about, giving back was on the forefront of Youtz’s mind. In 2005, he was fortunate enough to not have to spend Christmas in the hospital – but the same could not be said for a friend of his.
“Tyler wanted to bring a gift to his friend who had to spend Christmas on the oncology ward, and we talked to Tyler about how it wasn’t a good idea to just bring one gift,” Angela Youtz, Tyler’s mother, said. “So that year we started by bringing 11 gifts to the kids at the oncology ward and this year our goal is 1,000 gifts for kids in the hospital.”
Nine-year-old Youtz is now the President and CEO of Toys From Tyler, an organization started by the then-five-year-old cancer patient. For the past four years, Toys From Tyler has brought smiles to the faces of children in hospitals during the holidays.
In addition to running Toys From Tyler, he also wrote and illustrated “Tyler vs. The Tumor,” a book chronicling his battle with cancer. In the book, he recalls his fight vs. cancer as if it were a biblical adventure. The story ends with Tyler climactically defeating the tumor in a scene reminiscent of David and Goliath.
This year, Youtz’s goal is to donate 1,000 toys during the holiday season. Youtz has a good head start to his goal courtesy of Warner Brothers and Mattel, who are donating 250 toys to Toys from Tyler. Youtz will continue to collect toys until December 20, all of which will be donated to the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital.
Friedrich Nietzsche once said “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” In that case, Magic Maker Tyler Youtz is as strong as they come.
For information about Toys From Tyler, or to make a donation, please visit www.toysfromtyler.com.
Do you know someone who dedicates their personal time to making the Central Florida community a better place? To nominate someone to be honored at an Orlando Magic game as a Magic Maker, please visit www.nba.com/magic/community.
Noah Sharfman is an intern in the Magic’s communications department.
By Noah SharfmanNovember 24, 2009
Tyler Youtz has experienced things most people don’t experience during a lifetime. He started his own company. Wrote his own book. Defeated a bout with cancer.
And, he is only nine years old.
At the age of four, Youtz was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, stage IV neuroblastoma. He underwent a grueling year of treatment, which included radiation, chemotherapy, bone marrow treatment and hair loss. But after a grueling year, the resilient five-year-old emerged cancer free.
As if battling cancer wasn’t enough to think about, giving back was on the forefront of Youtz’s mind. In 2005, he was fortunate enough to not have to spend Christmas in the hospital – but the same could not be said for a friend of his.
“Tyler wanted to bring a gift to his friend who had to spend Christmas on the oncology ward, and we talked to Tyler about how it wasn’t a good idea to just bring one gift,” Angela Youtz, Tyler’s mother, said. “So that year we started by bringing 11 gifts to the kids at the oncology ward and this year our goal is 1,000 gifts for kids in the hospital.”
Nine-year-old Youtz is now the President and CEO of Toys From Tyler, an organization started by the then-five-year-old cancer patient. For the past four years, Toys From Tyler has brought smiles to the faces of children in hospitals during the holidays.
In addition to running Toys From Tyler, he also wrote and illustrated “Tyler vs. The Tumor,” a book chronicling his battle with cancer. In the book, he recalls his fight vs. cancer as if it were a biblical adventure. The story ends with Tyler climactically defeating the tumor in a scene reminiscent of David and Goliath.
This year, Youtz’s goal is to donate 1,000 toys during the holiday season. Youtz has a good head start to his goal courtesy of Warner Brothers and Mattel, who are donating 250 toys to Toys from Tyler. Youtz will continue to collect toys until December 20, all of which will be donated to the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital.
Friedrich Nietzsche once said “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” In that case, Magic Maker Tyler Youtz is as strong as they come.
For information about Toys From Tyler, or to make a donation, please visit www.toysfromtyler.com.
Do you know someone who dedicates their personal time to making the Central Florida community a better place? To nominate someone to be honored at an Orlando Magic game as a Magic Maker, please visit www.nba.com/magic/community.
Noah Sharfman is an intern in the Magic’s communications department.
