Her Good Deeds.
The talk show host isn't shy about putting her money where her heart is. Here's a rundown of other folks who've been touched by Oprah Winfrey.
Students, who are all from South Africa and can be of any race, have been chosen based on factors ranging from financial hardship (the girls' families must have a household monthly income below $700) to compelling personal histories. One of the girls, Given Skhosana—a 13-year-old from Soweto—was raped at age 5. Before starting anew at the academy, she was living not far from her attacker, who went free. These girls, says Winfrey, have "that indefinable quality—that light that cannot be dimmed no matter how much hardship or poverty you have known."
• A new Boys & Girls Club Kosciusko, Miss.—Oprah's hometown—has a computer lab, gym, library and art and music rooms—thanks to a $6 million donation by Oprah (with help from the Gap and Old Navy). "This [club] gives kids something positive to do instead of going on the streets," says Kim Jackson, 18, an honor student who tutors there. "You can already see the difference."
• The Oprah Winfrey Scholars at Atlanta's Morehouse College have received $12 million in scholarships donated by Oprah since 1989. While building the Leadership Academy for Girls, she also encouraged the college to spend $1 million to send its students to South Africa to work on humanitarian projects. "They came back emotionally changed," says Morehouse president Walter E. Massey.
• Oprah donated money for more than 80 homes built in Jackson, Miss., and Houston in 2006 for Hurricane Katrina victims. "We had to start fresh," says retired New Orleans schoolteacher Catherine Andrews, 56, "but [Oprah] made the transition so easy."
• From 2002 to 2004 Oprah and her Angel Network donated $1.25 million to Help the Afghan Children. "The group was able to open seven new schools that educate more than 15,000 children," says Stephen Perlman, the charity's director of U.S. operations. "It's dramatically increased literacy and skill levels."
Students, who are all from South Africa and can be of any race, have been chosen based on factors ranging from financial hardship (the girls' families must have a household monthly income below $700) to compelling personal histories. One of the girls, Given Skhosana—a 13-year-old from Soweto—was raped at age 5. Before starting anew at the academy, she was living not far from her attacker, who went free. These girls, says Winfrey, have "that indefinable quality—that light that cannot be dimmed no matter how much hardship or poverty you have known."
• A new Boys & Girls Club Kosciusko, Miss.—Oprah's hometown—has a computer lab, gym, library and art and music rooms—thanks to a $6 million donation by Oprah (with help from the Gap and Old Navy). "This [club] gives kids something positive to do instead of going on the streets," says Kim Jackson, 18, an honor student who tutors there. "You can already see the difference."
• The Oprah Winfrey Scholars at Atlanta's Morehouse College have received $12 million in scholarships donated by Oprah since 1989. While building the Leadership Academy for Girls, she also encouraged the college to spend $1 million to send its students to South Africa to work on humanitarian projects. "They came back emotionally changed," says Morehouse president Walter E. Massey.
• Oprah donated money for more than 80 homes built in Jackson, Miss., and Houston in 2006 for Hurricane Katrina victims. "We had to start fresh," says retired New Orleans schoolteacher Catherine Andrews, 56, "but [Oprah] made the transition so easy."
• From 2002 to 2004 Oprah and her Angel Network donated $1.25 million to Help the Afghan Children. "The group was able to open seven new schools that educate more than 15,000 children," says Stephen Perlman, the charity's director of U.S. operations. "It's dramatically increased literacy and skill levels."