Need Some Info Regarding Oprah

On a show that aired Monday, Winfrey gave more than 300 audience
members $1,000 debit cards sponsored by the Bank of America to donate
to a charitable cause.

et472...

I saw the show, and I don't think donating to a charity was the intent
of the "giveaway". Hence that would automatically rule out giving
to any organized charity, which your question seems to suggest.

doucar4ever...

I live in Illinois and a woman from a town near mine was in the audience.
The local news reported that she donated some of the money to a battered
women's shelter. According to the Oprah site, they can give it to one
person (not a family member) or split it among charitable causes. Maybe the
Oprah show wouldn't let them give all the money to one charity.

The notion was that giving was as much fun as receiving. So she
arranged for some third party, the bank, to provide money that she
could pass on to the audience, who would in turn give away in
some way. Since she specifically mentioned "or in ones to a lot of
people", and she gave away video cameras to document the giveaway,
she is looking for interesting stories. Giving to a charity of
choice would not fit that.

She's looking more for someone walking along and seeing some guy
without shoes, and then buying shoes (and maybe more). Some direct
giving, and likely as a response to some need rather than some good
cause. Handing over a check to some charity does not make for good
tv, at the very least.

Since they have a week to do this, I suspect they will return to
find they've landed on the traditional "MY Favorite Things" show,
since after all they "deserve" something for participating in this,
and all those gadget and gift makers want the "free" publicity
that derives from the giveaway.

Michael

I heard a blurp on CNN, that a number of audience members wanted to
donate to disabled veterans. Oprah's staffers said no. Is this true
and did anyone else see the blurb.

doucar4ever...

There's nothing on the CNN website about this. Do you have a link?