Move over Jerry Springer - talk shows aren't all about freaks and fetishes. Oprah Winfrey is the gabfest hostest with the mostest - at least according to more than 15 million US people who watch her show daily. She may be a billionaire (that's billion with a "B"!) but she spends more money on charity than most people make in a lifetime.
Oprah To the Rescue
Oprah Winfrey has acted in movies like, The Color Purple and Beloved, appeared on Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and even acted in a couple miniseries. But it's not just her acting that people love her for - Oprah is a children's rights activist and even stood beside former President Clinton when he signed a new law that Oprah created. That's right, she's even helping to make laws. One of those laws was the creation of a national database of convicted child abusers so employers and people working with children won't hire a dangerous person. She also funds battered women's shelters and campaigns to catch child abusers.
Oprah Gets America Reading
Oprah's Book Club started in 1996 in hopes of getting the country excited about reading again. It must have worked cuz all Oprah Book Club selections have become instant bestsellers. During the same year she received the George Foster Peabody Individual Achievement Award and the International Radio and Television Society's Gold Medal Award.
Oprah Gets Her Wings
In 1997 Oprah Winfrey began Oprah's Angel Network, a campaign to encourage people to help those in need. One project was The World's Largest Piggy Bank, a collection of change to help send fifty students to college. Oprah also helps out at a few colleges and some Chicago Public Schools.
Oprah in Africa
In December 2003, Oprah began a gift-giving pilgrimage in Africa. On her trip, Oprah have away 50,000 Christmas gifts to orphans and other desperately poor children. Oprah says she was inspired by the nuns who brought food and gifts to her house on Christmas when she was just 12 years old. Not satisfied with just playing Santa once a year, Oprah pleged to donate mad cash (we're talkin' millions and millions of dollars) to build schools, empower women and help fight AIDS in Africa.Related Stories
Related Articles
