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Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation

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The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation (“OWCF”) is an United States-based philanthropic foundation dedicated to support education, women, museums, community development, disaster relief, and other charitable endeavors. Established by television host and producer Oprah Winfrey, the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation has distributed millions of dollars to charities around the world.

History

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Through the years, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah's Angel Network (1998-2010),[1][2] the Oprah Winfrey Foundation (established in 1987),[3][4] and the Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation (2010-)[5] have donated hours and dollars to numerous non-profit organizations operating in the United States, South Africa, and other countries.[1]

Financials

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OWCF has assets of approximately $209 million.[5] In 2006, OWCF received a thirty-six million dollar infusion,[6] and in 2009, a forty million dollar donation from Oprah Winfrey.[2]

In 2022, OWCF disbursed more than twelve million dollars in grants.[5] Since its inception, OWCF and its predecessors have made grants to support several activities, including elementary, secondary, and higher education institutions, after-school programs, teacher development, and other educational activities; COVID-19 relief; African-American history; dance; disaster relief; and other causes.

Activities

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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

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In 2004, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation pledged one million dollars to endow a student scholarship at the Ailey School at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.[7][8]

Christmas Kindness South Africa

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OWCF launched “Christmas Kindness South Africa 2002,” a country-wide project that supplied food, clothing, books, toys, and more to thousands of children.[1]

COVID-19 pandemic

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oprah Winfrey and OWCF initially donated twelve million dollars to relief efforts,[9] focusing their efforts on Oprah’s “home cities,” Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Kosciusko, Mississippi; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Nashville, Tennessee.[1][10] In Chicago, OWCF awarded five million dollars to Live Healthy Chicago, a collaboration to assist high-risk populations during the COVID-19 period.[11][12] In Milwaukee, OWCF awarded a grant to Wellpoint Care Network to provide telehealth mental health services. [13] In Nashville, Oprah Winfrey contacted Tennessee State University president Glenda Glover, who helped to direct a two million dollar donation from OWCF to Nashville Nutures for grocery store gift cards.[14][9]

In addition to these efforts, OWCF pledged an additional three million dollars[15] to South LA Forward, a collaboration of SoLa I Can Foundation, SEE-LA, and the Watts Healthcare Corporation, in Los Angeles. [16]

Morehouse College

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The Morehouse College Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program has received several donations from OWCF and Oprah Winfrey.[17] During the 2023-24 academic year, fifty Morehouse students were selected as Oprah Winfrey Scholars.[17] Oprah Winfrey first pledged twelve million dollars in scholarship support to Morehouse in 1989. [14] In 2019, OWCF contributed an additional thirteen millions dollars to Morehouse College.[1] In total, Oprah Winfrey and OWCF have donated twenty-five million dollars to this HBCU.[1][17][14]

National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Since 2004, Oprah Winfrey has supported the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture[1] as a member of the museum’s advisory council and donor.[18] In 2013, she donated twelve million dollars to support the capital campaign of the world's largest museum dedicated to African-American history and culture.[18][19][20] In 2007, she contributed an additional one million dollars,[18][19] and in 2024, she donated a little more than one million shares, roughly worth three million dollars, of WW International, formerly Weight Watchers International, to the museum.[19]

Oprah Chai

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In partnership with Starbucks, Oprah Winfrey donated a portion of her profits from the sales of Teavana® Oprah Chai Tea, a limited Starbucks offering, to non-profit groups.[21] During the three year program,[21] Oprah Winfrey donated more than five millions of her Oprah Chai proceeds to several organizations, including Girls Inc., National CARES Mentoring Movement, West Side High School, Newark,[22] Pathways to College, and U.S. Dream Academy.[1] From its proceeds of Teavana Oprah Chai, Starbucks donated twenty-one million dollars to support youth education.[21]

Oprah Winfrey Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko/Attala County

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In 2006, the Oprah Winfrey Boys & Girls Club of Kosciusko/Attala County, a 32,000-square foot recreational facility for children supported by gifts from Oprah Winfrey and her foundation, opened in Kosciusko, Mississippi, Winfrey's hometown.[23]

Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls

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In 2000, Oprah Winfrey met with former South African president Nelson Mandela to discuss building a new school for girls in South Africa.[1] In 2007, the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls (OWLAG), a boarding school for girls, grades 8–12, opened in Henley on Klip, Gauteng Province, South Africa.[24] Through the years, Oprah and OWCF have contributed more than $200 million to South African education, primarily for academically gifted girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.[1]

Pathways to College

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In 2020, OWCF committed five million dollars to Pathways to College, an after-school program in Newark, New Jersey.[22]

People’s Fund of Maui

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In 2023, Oprah Winfrey in partnership with Dwayne Johnson donated ten million dollars to create the “People’s Fund of Maui,” in response to the 2023 Hawaii wildfires.[25][26] In total, the fund distributed nearly sixty million dollars to more than 8,100 Maui residents who were affected by the wildfires.[27]

Providence St. Mel School

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In 1993, Oprah Winfrey donated one million dollars to Providence St. Mel School, a private school on the westside of Chicago.[28][29][30]

Ron Clark Academy

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In 2017, Oprah Winfrey donated five million dollars to Ron Clark Academy, a nonprofit middle school school in Atlanta, Georgia.[31][1]

Teach for America

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OWCF granted one million dollars to Teach For America’s social-emotional learning program, a wellness initiative for teachers, students, and staff.[32]

United Negro College Fund

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In 2019, Oprah Winfrey announced a $1,149,000 gift to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) at the organization’s 17th Annual Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon in Charlotte, North Carolina.[33]

Urban Prep Academies

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In 2009, the Oprah Winfrey Foundation donated $250,000 to Urban Prep in Chicago,[34][35] an all boys school that lost its charter school status due to allegations of misconduct in 2022.[36]

U.S. Dream Academy

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In 2023, Oprah Winfrey pledged $2,500,000 to the U.S. Dream Academy.[37] The academy supports children of incarcerated parents and their families.[38] In 2024, Oprah Winfrey announced a matching grant to support the organization’s national positive youth development at the 23rd Annual Power of a Dream Celebration, where Winfrey received the Legacy Award for her longtime support of the U.S. Dream Academy.[39]

West Side High School, Newark

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In 2019, Oprah Winfrey and OWCF donated $500,000 to West Side High School, Newark for the school’s summer “Lights On” initiative.[22][40]

Oprah’s Angel Network

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Established in 1998, Oprah’s Angel Network raised more than $80 million for charitable projects, funding scholarships, women’s shelters, and youth centers and residential facilities.[1] Oprah Winfrey donated more than one million dollars to the Angel Network in 2009.[2]

The Angel Network ceased operations in 2010.[1][41]

Leadership and management

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m About Us. Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
  2. ^ a b c Philanthropy 50 2009 Gift Profile: Oprah Winfrey. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. February 7, 2010.
  3. ^ Oprah Winfrey. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
  4. ^ Community (May 15, 2023). Billionaire Oprah Winfrey Building Legacy of Impact & Philanthropy. Duchess of Impact.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation. Oprah Winfrey, Trustee. Burbank, CA. Tax-exempt since Aug. 2010. EIN: 26-6908382. Propublica Nonprofit Explorer.
  6. ^ Friedman, Roger (January 5, 2007). "Oprah Winfrey's Charities Worth More Than $200 Million". foxnews.com.
  7. ^ Segal, Lewis (May 26, 2004). Oprah’s no wallflower at this dance. Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ Alexandra (May 20, 2004). Oprah gives $1 million to Ailey School. Ballet Alert!
  9. ^ a b The Associated Press (May 20, 2020). Tennessee State University president 'thrilled' by Oprah Winfrey gift. FOX17 Nashville.
  10. ^ "The Most Impressive Acts Of Charity By Famous People". International Business Times, Singapore Edition. 2020-05-15. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  11. ^ Live Healthy Chicago. Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
  12. ^ $5 Million Oprah Winfrey Grant Accelerates West Side United, Chicago COVID-19 Prevention Efforts as Member of Live Healthy Chicago. West Side United.
  13. ^ Gift from Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation Creates Healing Bridge. Wellpoint Care Network.
  14. ^ a b c [Oprah Winfrey donates $2 million to HBCU Tennessee State and its surrounding community https://andscape.com/features/oprah-winfrey-donates-2-million-to-hbcu-tennessee-state-and-its-surrounding-community/] Andscape.
  15. ^ Nicolaou, Elena (July 14, 2020). Oprah Gives An Additional $3 Million in Pandemic Relief Grants to Los Angeles. She previously pledged $12 million in aid to her five "home cities" around the U.S. Oprah Daily.
  16. ^ Hettrick, Chelsea (July 13, 2020). OPRAH WINFREY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION COMMITS ADDITIONAL $3 MILLION IN COVID-19 RELIEF SUPPORT TO ‘SOUTH LA FORWARD’ COLLABORATION. Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation.
  17. ^ a b c Oprah Winfrey Scholars Program. Andrew Young Center for Global Leadership, Morehouse College.
  18. ^ a b c News (June 11, 2013). Smithsonian Announces $12 Million Gift from Oprah Winfrey to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. National Museum of African American History and Culture.
  19. ^ a b c Gural, Natasha (February 29, 2024). The Skinny On Why Oprah Winfrey Donated Another $3 Million To National Museum Of African American History And Culture, Fattening Her Contribution To Over $16 Million. Forbes.
  20. ^ Davis, Heather Greenwood (May 23, 2019). 10 Destinations for African-American history and culture. National Geographic Society.
  21. ^ a b c Fact Sheet (March 15, 2017). Starbucks Donates $21M to Support Youth Education from Sales of Teavana Oprah Chai . Starbucks.
  22. ^ a b c Wall, Patrick (February 20, 2020). Oprah Winfrey gives $5 million boost to college-prep program with Newark roots. ChalkBeat Newark.
  23. ^ Kosciusko Attala Partnership (November 26, 2019). OPRAH WINFREY BOYS & GIRLS CLUB.
  24. ^ Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls.
  25. ^ Eagle, Nathan (August 31, 2023). Oprah And Dwayne Johnson Make $1,200 Per Month Available To Maui Wildfire Survivors. The People's Fund of Maui was launched with a $10 million donation. Honolulu Civil Beat.
  26. ^ Kew, Allan (October 25, 2023). Oprah And Dwayne Johnson’s Relief Fund Has Paid Out $19 Million. How long survivors can expect the monthly fire relief payments is unclear. Honolulu Civil Beat.
  27. ^ The People’s Fund of Maui provided direct financial assistance to the people of Lahaina and Kula who experienced devastating losses from the Maui wildfires. Entertainment Industry Foundation.
  28. ^ The School that Refused to Die. Providence St. Mel History.
  29. ^ Lemieux, Amilah-Asali I. (October 28, 2020).Sound-Off: There's No Reason to Hate on Oprah. Essence.
  30. ^ CBS Chicago (November 19, 2013). Million Dollar Donation From Oprah Helped Save West Side School. CBS News.
  31. ^ Oprah Winfrey donates $5 million to Ron Clark Academy. Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  32. ^ Teach for America (December 16, 2021). Why Oprah Donated $1 Million to Teach For America’s Social-Emotional Learning Program.
  33. ^ Oprah’s "Stand and Deliver" Moment for Charlotte’s UNCF Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon Changes Lives for Many. United Negro College Fund.
  34. ^ rtmadmincd (June 16, 2009). Urban Prep school receives generous donation from Oprah Foundation. Chicago Defender.
  35. ^ "Oprah foundation donates $250K to high school". ABC7 News, WLS-TV, Chicago. 12 June 2009.
  36. ^ Amin, Reema (June 6, 2024). CPS did not violate state law in moving to take over Urban Prep, appeals court rules. ChalkBeat Chicago.
  37. ^ Hurwitz, Cassie (October 9, 2023). Oprah Just Donated Millions of Dollars to Support Youth Education. Oprah Daily.
  38. ^ About Us. U.S. Dream Academy.
  39. ^ EIN Presswire (November 04, 2024). U.S. Dream Academy Raises Over $1.6 Million with Matched Donation from Oprah Winfrey at the Power of A Dream Celebration.
  40. ^ Carter, Barry (May 18, 2019). Oprah shows up to N.J. school, surprises students with $500,000 gift. NJ.com
  41. ^ "Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network Charity To Close Down". The Huffington Post. May 26, 2010. Retrieved February 24, 2016.

See also

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