Over her years on the Oprah show, the daytime queen has certainly earned a reputation for being extremely generous. While she has given many gifts away (and checks), she always advocates for people to pay it forward.
During an October 2006 taping, Winfrey, gave her 400 studio audience a $1,000 debit card to donate to the charity organizations of their choosing, allowing them to also enjoy the gift of empowering others.
Logan Square Neighborhood Association
The Logan Square Neighborhood Association is a Chicago-based non-profit that helps low-income individuals in struggling communities. It serves more than 7,000 adults and children from a number of programs. The organization had been struggling a little, which is why Oprah decided to help out.
In 2011, according to the Chicago Tribune, Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network granted the city’s Logan Square Neighborhood Association $25,000. Chicago clearly has a special place in Oprah's heart as it was where she filmed her TV show from 1986 to 2011.
Making Museums
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History — the flagship of American culture and history got a massive surprise in 2012 when Winfrey donated $12 million. The philanthropist wanted to totally revamp the cultural center with this donation, and she sure did. This was added to a previous donation of $1 million in 2007.
Oprah has been on the museum's advisory council since 2004. The newest wing of the museum was first open to the public in September 2016.
Saving Lives in Africa
In September 2015, Oprah Winfrey announced that she would make a contribution of $100,000 to the GEANCO Foundation. The foundation was established in 2005 by a Nigerian family who "saves and transforms the lives of the poor and vulnerable in Africa with special medical missions.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Oprah made her donation in honor of the actor, David Oyelowo. Oyelowo is involved with a charitable organization, which provides health programs and education to women and girls in Nigeria.
Save the Children
On one of the final episodes of “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” the daytime queen invited one of her favorite guests, Tererai Trent, back to the talk show. Trent, a Zimbabwe native, appeared on the Oprah show for the first time in 2009. There she shared his story about the people in her village who helped her relocate to America in order to further her education.
Trent also told her of her plans to go back to her hometown and improve the school there. Oprah essentially got her back on the show to tell her that she planned to donate $1.5 million to rebuild the Matau Primary School in Zimbabwe. She was speechless.