Oprah Winfrey's philanthropy and charitable impact

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most well-know and recognizable personalities of the 21st century. She has accomplished a great deal throughout her life. However, perhaps her greatest contribution has been her philanthropy throughout the years. According to Oppedisano

"Philanthropy's roots are burrowed in ancient history. In the U.S., the foundational elements of such humanitarianism were laid by the stream of diverse immigrants who came to this particular land in search of religious and political freedom as well as economic opportunity. As a consequence, "philanthropy has strong roots in religious beliefs, in the history of mutual assistance, in democratic principles of civic participation, in pluralistic approaches to problem solving and in American t

raditions of individual autonomy and limited government" (The Council on Foundations, 2002, Oppedisano, 2004)."

With this understood, Oprah Winfrey's philanthropic endeavors epitomize the American spirit and the spirit of human beings through the world. The purpose of this discussion is to discuss the philanthropic endeavors of Oprah's Angel Network and her other philanthropic endeavors.

Oprah's Angel Network

Oprah's Angel Network is one of the most well respected charities in the country and in the entire world. The charity was create in 1997. Initially is was only created to assist 150 American students with scholarships so that they could complete college. It also started initially to build 200 homes for Habitat for Humanity. When Winfrey so the impact that the organization could have on people's live she created the charity known as Oprah's Angel network ("About Us").

Today Oprah's Angel network is a public charity that uses public donations to present grants to organization throughout the world. The Angel Network does not give to just any organizations. The organizations that receive money from the network are those who are working to protect human rights, provide education, develop leaders and create communities.

The company is also engaged is several projects that are geared toward meeting the aforementioned goals. These projects include the creating schools project is South Africa, O Ambassadors, and Rebuilding the Gulf Coast. All of these projects are ongoing and only occur with the assistance and financial support of the public.

The creating schools project in South Africa, was developed after Oprah visited South Africa during the Christmas season of 2002. During this visit she brought clothes, shoes, toys and food to the children of South Africa. Once she and her staff so the need in South Africa for more schools, Oprah's Angel Network sprang into action and made a commitment to build several schools in the country. According to the official website for the charity, "The project seeks to find innovative solutions to the complex challenges of building schools in poor, remote areas of South Africa. The project's first school, the Seven Fountains Primary School, was established in 2007. Two new schools, one in Vele and the other in Vryheid, are set to begin construction in 2009 ("Our Work")."

The rebuilding of the Gulf Coast is also an important project that Oprah's Angel Network is involved in. This project was developed in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita which destroyed many homes and devastated the gulf coas t ("Our Work"). Through the angel network the public could give donations great and small to assist in building new homes for victims of the hurricane ("Our Work"). At a time when many government organizations and traditional charities failed to help citizens in any substantive way, the Angel Network sprang into action and assisted people who needed it the most.

One of the latest projects developed by Oprah's Angel Network is O. ambassadors. This particular program is designed to engage young people in helping other youth around the world. These young people are chosen from various schools across the country who are participating in the program ("Our Work"). The older students participating in the program get to go to foreign countries and assist in the building of schools and other types of infrastructure.

Over the years Oprah's Angel Network has accomplished a great deal. The website for the charity reports that it has raised over $80 million in public donations ("About Us"). The charity has put these funds to good use and helped many people. For instance, the network has worked in collaboration with Feed the children to build nearly 60 schools ("About Us"). These schools were erected in 12 countries around the world. These school provide thousands of kids living in rural areas with an education ("About Us").

As an aspect of the aforementioned Gulf Coast Rebuilding project the Angel network has restored or built around 1400 homes in Mississippi, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana. Through these efforts many displaced by the hurricanes have been able to start their lives over ("About Us").

During 2005 the network was responsible for providing over $1 million in school supplies to children in South Africa. This effort also provided 18000 students with school uniforms and shoes ("About Us"). This was an important effort because children in South Africa are not allowed to attend school if they do not have uniforms ("About Us"). Also as it pertains to education the Angel network constructed the Seven Fountains Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa ("About Us"). This school educate over 1000 children and has become a model for schools throughout the continent ("About Us").

O Ambassadors has also become an important aspect of the Angel Network since its inception in 2007 ("About Us"). This project is in collaboration with Free the children. In is school-based and encourages youth to assist other youth around the world ("About Us").

Oprah has also been able to act charitably through her book club awards ("About Us"). The awards supplies "books for under-resourced children in regions where a book club selection is set. For example, book club awards were distributed in Beijing, China for "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck and in St. Petersburg, Russia for "Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy ("About Us")."

In addition the O. Magazine, "Rescuing the World's Girls" and "Live Your Best Life Tour" events have inspired the Angel Network to present grants to organizations that help women and girls throughout the world. Another important program that the network spearheaded included the Use Your Life Award. This award was launched in 2000 and from 2000-2003 over 50 organization received a monetary award to assist them in their philanthropic endeavors.

Overall Oprah's Angel network has worked tirelessly toward helping people throughout the world. The Angle network is not only unique because of the scope of its activities but also because all of the proceeds donated to the network go straight to philanthropic endeavors. This is virtually unheard of as it pertains to charities. It is also one of the reasons that Oprah's Angel network is so well respected. Also the scope and the organization with which the organization carries out philanthropic endeavors in unheard of. For these reasons, Oprah's Angel Network is one of the most successful charities that exist.

Other philanthropic Endeavors

In addition to Oprah's Angel Network, Winfrey has also been instrumental in the launching of other philanthropic endeavors. One of the most popular of these endeavors involved product RED.

"In October 2006, Bono appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show to launch "Red" in America. For the better part of the hour-long show, viewers followed Oprah and Bono as they shopped at The Gap, Apple, Motorola and Armani Stores along

Michigan Avenue in Chicago, where a gushing Oprah bought 10 of most items.

Although it is impossible to estimate the publicity value of such product placements, the media exposure certainly exceeds the cost of donating a percent of profits from "Red" product sales to charity. "This show today is about getting medicine to people who need it," announced Oprah. "So by just buying a T-shirt, a pair of jeans, even a cellphone, you can actually begin to save lives. I think the people will be amazed at how little money it really takes to provide AIDS