Man Tattoos Body for Charity
by Lauren Cox

St. Steven's Tattoo might look like your everyday tattoo parlor, but owner Jim Burris plans on using his ink and skin for a charitable cause. Burris will let his sons, Mike and Atom, tattoo his entire body with advertisements, and he will give the money raised to charity.

"Except for my face, we plan on framing my face with maybe a ‘v’," said Burris.

The Burrises hope to raise 10 million dollars to benefit hungry children around the world and to help fund research for burn victims and autistics. Burris got the idea from a friend.

"Hearing about the guy who sold his forehead for $37,000 and was going to by himself a new car and clothes,” said Burris. “It's kind of a lot of money, you know, for one person."

Tattoo artistry is a Burris family tradition. Mike and Atom Burris have been at it for five years now.

" I've always wanted to be a tattoo artist,” said Mike Burris. “It's just my grandfather had one [tattoo], my uncle had them, dad's had them … so it's just something I've always been intrigued by."

Even their baby sister, Mindy, has helped out with the business. The Burrises say they feel a responsibility to help others.

" Being a good person, a good human being, doesn't make me anything special,” said Jim Burris. “I can't be congratulated for doing something I am supposed to be doing.”

But Atom says even the smallest actions would help.

“ A smile everyday would help a single person,” he said. “It's as easy as that. What are we trying to accomplish—I think—we’re trying to change the world a few people at a time.”

If you’re interested in sponsoring Jim Burris or purchasing an ad, you can e-mail the Burrises.