Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy School for Girls

Oprah Winfrey Supports Education

3/30/2009 4:14:09 PM

oprah winfrey, oprah winfrey show Oprah Winfrey Supports Education

In january of this year Oprah Winfrey once again showed her support for education by sending a letter to educator Ron Clark. There was recently a TV movie about this teacher and his belief and determination in teaching at risk kids. He had previously made two appearances on the Oprah Winfrey show as well. Inside the letter was a $365,000 donation for the innovative private school he opened in 2007. It is in what is one of the city's poorest neighborhoods.

Ron Clark, who currently has to find private donors to pay most of the annual tuition for each student, was quoted saying: 'We teach school all day and fund-raise at night. To have an unsolicited gift come like that is incredible.'

When he told his students with the news, he said the money from Oprah Winfrey's foundation, will pay for 26 students to attend the middle school for one year. Dozens of kids will now have the opportunity to follow their dreams.

If you follow her in the news you would know the Oprah Winfrey Foundation handed out $4 million dollars to educational programs in 2008 alone.

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oprah winfrey, oprah winfrey show

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Dear Miss Oprah hi my name is aisha I love your show and your what every black woman should hope to be I wrote you a short story about my life and I hope to get your opp. About my story and maybe some help with publishing it Iam on a very fix income right now and cant do it myself help please. god bless you from Aisha Kennedy

Anonymous

4/21/2009 6:01:57 AM

Hi Oprah, I was not sure how to reach someone on your staff but was wondering if you ever do a show on the "Greatest Generation" ? My Dad who is my favorite human alive, served in the Pacific as Commander of a PT boat during WW II. He will be turning 90 in November and wondered if you ever do a show on these folks... there are so few of them left and they are such hero's. I would love to try to get my Dad to Chicago for that showif you ever do one. He did his midshipman school at the Navy Pier where he met my Mom and has not been back since the 40's. He is a boy from Florence Alabama and worked his way through U. of Alabama and had no inside plumbing, etc and graduated Most Likely To Succeed in his class. Anyway, we are so proud and we are having a 90th birthday party for him on November 21st at his retirement home in Newnan Ga. It is amazing that where he lives there are a dozen or so men who fought in the war in different branches and would be a storehouse of knowledge if ever needed. Wondered if you do not do a show on such a thing if you would send him a note congratulating him on turning 90. I ask that you send it to me since as of now it is a surprise. Thank you for this consideration...While you are at it, it is my twin sister's 60th Birthday and since we are going to see Dad we will not be able to spend our birthday together for the first time in those 60 years. No doubt Dad is more important. If you would like to include a card for her as well I will surprise them both. It must be wonderful to span the interest of young and old and have an impact on so many people's lives. Fondly, Joanie Taylor 8100 E. Hinsdale Dr. Centennial, Co. 80112 .

Nonie

5/24/2009 10:25:56 PM

i would like to find out how do young girls in the Free state will get oportunity to be part of the academy. itumeleng 0741723009

Anonymous

6/2/2009 12:28:19 AM

Dear Oprah, I don't want this letter to sound like most of the letters that you have probley read on this site or anyone else's for that matter, as you can porbley guess I'm not your ordinary person. Well if you have then you would be right! I'm a very determained little girl who loves to learn about anything that I can get my little fingers on. I am currently a sophmore at Mater Academy Middle/High School in Hialeah Florida. This year I have been lucky enough to be taking Chinese! For the past 2 years my Chinese teacher has been trying to get her students a trip to China, but each year our school becomes more and more difficult for this to happen. For 2 whole years now our teacher has been risking her job to make this trip possible for us and each year she pushes the schools buttons fuerther and further to try and get closer to her goal. Our school does not suppourt the Chinese class one bit, as a matter of fact trying to make it a class was a very tough thing to do. But my friends and classmates are very thriving childeren and went threw many things to finally get this class approved. Our teacher Ms.Peris is a great teacher who has insired me to write this letter to you now. I see how hard it has been getting for her everytime she overcomes an obstical that the school puts in her way. Although I'm beginning to think that the more buttons she pushes the closer she is to the meeting the door. The entire Chinese class has always worked very hard into puttting time to the things that we not only study but the events we are able to go to inorder for us to learn more about it's cultuer. It is very hard to find a group of kids who are deticated and are willing to do just about anything to try and expand our knowledge and in trying to understand the cultuer of the Chinese. This trip comes as a great advantage to us if we were only given the chance to prove how much we really want this! I understand that you are a very powerful woman and i respect that 100%, but i also have come to understand that you are a woman that believes very strongly in the education of childeren. If you would give us the chance that small little boost it would mean the world to us. My entire class is working very hard to find places to to meet since we are not allowed to hold meetings in school. we arent even allowed to fundraise in school for this trip everything that we do is at a very high risk. I'm pretty sure that we don't care much of this risk on account of we are willing to do just about anything to make this trip happen. In my oppinion any one that is in charge of running a school should put the education of his/her students first and should not have them fightting for what they believe they should be able to learn about. We have gone above and beyond inorder for people to try and help our cause. Each year we create a booth at the dragon boat races letting people know what we are doing and in turn we learn about all the diffrent countries that travle the world to come together for the one event. This year is a little diffrent for us, this year we actually get ot be in the race as the first youth team. What we do and how we get noticed is a great chance for us to get sponsered or get small doantions that make every bit of a diffrence in our minds and put us that much closer to our goal. My class isn't one to ask just anyone for money we like to earn it in order for us to learn. Although in some cases learning isn't what's always improtant which is the main reason why it was my idea to send this letter to you. If you would help in any way that you could into getting us this great trip we would be forever greatful to you. Maybe it would show our school that one person can make a diffrence no matter what gets put in their way. I'm a strong believer in -Nietzche's quote "he who has a why to live can ber almost any how" and to my classmates, teacher and I our why is to eduacte and expand our minds to the outside world around us even when we are thrown obsecales that make us want to quite but we know that if we did everything that we did inorder to get to where we are today would have been a waste. So please Oprah please help my teacher,classmates, and I prove that we are willing to go above and beyond to get this trip!!! For more information please call of the following contacts: brianne (305)-984-1369 or e-mail me at brianne.mleon@gmail.com maria (305)-299-6520 mealanie (786)-942-2404

Brianne :)

9/1/2009 3:51:12 PM

Dear Oprah, I don't want this letter to sound like most of the letters that you have probley read on this site or anyone else's for that matter, as you can porbley guess I'm not your ordinary person. Well if you have then you would be right! I'm a very determined little girl who loves to learn about anything that I can get my little fingers on. I am currently a sophomore at Mater Academy Middle/High School in Hialeah Florida. This year I have been lucky enough to be taking Chinese! For the past 2 years my Chinese teacher has been trying to get her students a trip to China, but each year our school becomes more and more difficult for this to happen. For 2 whole years now our teacher has been risking her job to make this trip possible for us and each year she pushes the schools buttons further and further to try and get closer to her goal. Our school does not support the Chinese class one bit, as a matter of fact trying to make it a class was a very tough thing to do. But my friends and classmates are very thriving children and went thru many things to finally get this class approved. Our teacher Ms.Peris is a great teacher who has inspired me to write this letter to you now. I see how hard it has been getting for her every time she overcomes an obstacle that the school puts in her way. Although I'm beginning to think that the more buttons she pushes the closer she is to the meeting the door. The entire Chinese class has always worked very hard into puttting time to the things that we not only study but the events we are able to go to in order for us to learn more about it's culture. It is very hard to find a group of kids who are dedicated and are willing to do just about anything to try and expand our knowledge and in trying to understand the culture of the Chinese. This trip comes as a great advantage to us if we were only given the chance to prove how much we really want this! I understand that you are a very powerful woman and I respect that 100%, but I also have come to understand that you are a woman that believes very strongly in the education of children. If you would give us the chance that small little boost it would mean the world to us. My entire class is working very hard to find places to meet since we are not allowed to hold meetings in school. We aren’t even allowed to fundraise in school for this trip everything that we do is at a very high risk. I'm pretty sure that we don't care much of this risk on account of we are willing to do just about anything to make this trip happen. In my opinion any one that is in charge of running a school should put the education of his/her students first and should not have them fighting for what they believe they should be able to learn about. We have gone above and beyond in order for people to try and help our cause. Each year we create a booth at the dragon boat races letting people know what we are doing and in turn we learn about all the different countries that travel the world to come together for the one event. This year is a little different for us, this year we actually get to be in the race as the first youth team. What we do and how we get noticed is a great chance for us to get sponsored or get small donations that make every bit of a difference in our minds and which in turn all the doatations that we receive we like to involve ourselves in Arms of Love in Guatemala. Making it that much harder for us to really raise money for our trip. Most of the money that we do earn we give it to charity because we know that they need it more than we do. Which we give as a donation for food, shelter, and clothing for the children who have absolutely nothing to their name. My class isn't one to ask just anyone for money we like to earn it in order for us to learn. Although in some cases learning isn't what's always important which is the main reason why it was my idea to send this letter to you. If you would help in any way that you could into getting us this great trip we would be forever grateful to you. Maybe it would show our school that one person can make a difference no matter what gets put in their way. I'm a strong believer in -Nietzsche’s quote "he who has a why to live can bear almost any how" and to my classmates, teacher and I our why is to educate and expand our minds to the outside world around us even when we are thrown obsecales that make us want to quite but we know that if we did everything that we did in order to get to where we are today would have been a waste. So please Oprah please help my teacher, classmates, and I prove that we are willing to go above and beyond to get this trip!!! For more information please call of the following contacts: Brianne (305)-984-1369 or E-mail me at brianne.mleon@gmail.com Maria (305)-299-6520 Melanie (786)-942-2404

Brianne :)

9/1/2009 4:24:26 PM

Dear Oprah, My name is Jemima Simon. I want you to know that I admire your work, your heart, and passion. Not many people who come from nothing use their talent the way you do and make it of worth by millions of people. You are definitely one of a kind filled with God's love and infinitely blessed. I am writing to you in hope that you may be a blessing for my community through me in light of providing for children and families something that has endless worth: education. I am a young Haitian-American currently working on my Masters degree in Business Administration. Born and raised in Miami, Fl. I have watched my parents struggle for their children coming from a small island in the Caribbean, to America about 25 years ago with a baby in hand and only the clothes on their backs. Now it's seven of us, and raising children in the ghetto is a struggle especially when hope for a brighter future is the goal in mind. Regardless of the situation, I knew what I wanted out of life, but was always told that I won't be able to live comfortably with a career of being an educator. I remember playing school with my siblings when I was about five and being the teacher was one of the best feelings I ever had. Now that I am a young adult, my experience has led me away from being just a teacher, but the passion for teaching still lives. Currently, I am employed as a director in a preschool and child care center for a nonprofit organization, in a community that has many families with low income. Almost every day, I watch parents wanting more for their children but not being able to afford the cost for fulfilling that need. Even people that are receiving assistance from the government don't have enough means to continue to support their young children's early childhood education. They simply leave them at home with someone to just watch them. As much as I would love to keep those unfortunate children at my center, financial limitations will not allow me to do so for everyone. I believe that investing in early childhood education is important because between the years of infancy through three, is when children develop their personalities. Therefore, it is important to make sure that receive attention, love and developmentally appropriate exposure to life. I also believe that through the arts; whether it be music, dance, or fine arts; children will engage their senses in open-ended play and develops cognitive, social-emotional and multi-sensory skills. Art will also provide opportunities for brain development, mastery, self esteem and creativity. Although unfortunate families feel as if they have to settle for less, children should not have to suffer; especially for the situations they are brought into. I believe they just need a head start in their young lives. They need to be surrounded in a positive environment, filled with love and learning. They deserve a chance to be the best that they can be and have big dreams with knowing that only the sky is the limit. I plan to create such an environment for young children in unfortunate communities with quality care and education through the use of arts; where our children will be exposed to fine, practical and performing arts. They will be able to express themselves freely whether it is through painting, playing the piano or even dancing. I believe that with your help this dream will become reality. This will help our world in many ways because children are our future. I pray that you find it in your heart to support me in this venture. Lives after lives will be blessed and hope will be restored in these children and families. May God continue to bless you. Sincerely, Jemima Simon P.s. My contact information: Jemima Simon Address: 12800 NE 6 Avenue, Miami, FL. 33161 Phone: (786)797-6419; (305)892-2828 Email: jsimon985@gmail.com

Anonymous

11/21/2009 7:19:13 AM

Hello Ms. Winfrey just wanted to see if you've ever heard of the WETWeb.org. a mentoring program for woman and teens. I have a 15yr old teen who is interested in mentoring and giving back to others. There are so many programs thats not good and us mothers have to be very careful. Please advise me of any mentoring internship programs that you know of to be reputable. Thank you and may you continue to be well.

Anonymous

12/1/2009 5:56:53 PM

Greetings and Aloha, I am a single mother of four who has survivied 10 years domestic violence and my education with the love of my children kept me going throughout it all. I have obtained three degrees and presently working on my fourth. Now my oldest is about to start her journey in graduating and going to college. As a first generation Jamaican African Arabian American Woman I want to empower her to feel comfortable and rest assure her that she wont have to struggle as I have. She is a strong leader and has been in the student government in her school for four years and even the janitors ask her for informatioin or where things go.(She runs it!) It is a small school in Hawaii in the rural area, but she has been accepted to a private school in Honolulu, called Hawaii Pacific University. She has done a tresmendous amount of community service and honors in the community and has been joined into the National Honor Society. However, I live paycheck to paycheck as a Mental Health Professional/Crisis Interventionist and have not been able to start a college fund for her or any of my children. After learning about your scholarship programs I would like to know if you are intersted in honoring this college HPU in Honolulu Hawaii, as being one of the first International schools of Hawaii that has been given this blessing you offer. In sponsoring my daughter to further her education as a strong leader in communications and obtaining her Masters. Please feel free to communicate to me at this email or 808-896-7442. Mahalo- for all the blessings that you do for young women around the world. You are truely awesome!!!

Mie

1/7/2010 1:58:56 AM

Dear Oprah My name is Sharon and firstly i would like to thank you for the wonderful and amazing work you do for thousands of poeple around the world.You always touch my heart when you highlight the pain especially the children of Africa are going through.May God always be with you. I also wanted to let you know about the Rock Series Maths Program that we are selling to the people of South Africa for starters. The Rock Series educational program focus mainly on the problem arears of maths.We have come to realise that most children are failing due to the fact that their foundation for maths or reading is not strong enough.The children need to know the basics of maths before they are able to taclke the more advanced maths that is why we are introducing this fantastic program to the parents.It consists of 7 Cd's that can be loaded on your home computer or laptop and has more than 500 lessons for mathematics and 2000 lessons in reading (Afrikaans and English combined).This program has audio and visual training of both mathematics and english therefore it keeps the attention of the children. Oprah would you please take a look at our Rock Series Program at www.rockseries.co.za and let us know what you think about the program,how best we can market it so that we can help the South African child to have a better future and maybe recommend us to people who have children struggling in Mathematics or reading. Please help us to improve the lives of children by giving them the only tool in life;Education for all. Your response will be greatly appreciated.

Manzini

1/18/2010 3:18:43 AM

Dear Ms Winfrey, Hope you get to read this letter. I'm a South Africa living in Gauteng. A friend of mine's daughter - Melissa needs help with regards to furthering her studies in 2012. She is currently in Grade 11 and next year she'll be in Matric. If at all posible, could she come and see you at the school when you are in South Africa for an interview with the hope of receiving a bursary to study further in 2012? I'll drive her and the mom to the school? Yours sincerely, Sybil

Sybilo

3/2/2010 3:32:26 AM

Goodday Ms. Winfrey, My name is Adebukola and i am currently undertaking my masters in Development Studies at the University Of Glasgow, i have a passion to work with young girls and i have in the past been a member of girls clubs and worked with N.G.O'S both in my home country of Nigeria and in the United Kingdom with an N.G.O called FORWARD UK. I am about rounding up my masters program and as someone who wants to eventually have a daycare center and a school of my own in Nigeria, i am wondering if its possible i do an internship at you OPRAH WINFREY LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FOR GIRLS. I want to be able to teach these girls and share my experience of growing up and being a teenage girl at some point. Although i thank God that growing up i was priviledged but apart from the stigma of poverty, there are other issues girls face in life. In my High school, a teacher tried to molest me and i told my mother who runs an NGO in Nigeria called The Inter Africa Committee, we brought the issue to the knowledge of the school Principal who promised to look into the situation but by the time the issue came to the public, other teachers started vindicating and victimizing me. I thank God for the strong personality he instilled in me and for my mother also but imagine if it were a girl who dint have the backing or support of an elder? This and other issues is what has quipped my interest in the Girl Child plus i have a total love for teaching and impacting knowledge. So many of my friends have told me i should be a Motivational Speaker and i strongly believe in working with the girls at the academy i would be able to give and also equip myself better for the path i intend to follow in helping the Girl-child. I do hope to get a favourable response back and i want to state that i would be available from the 1st of September 2010 and i am abit familiar with South Africa having visited there twice, but went to Durban and Johannesburg. Kind regards.

mostcomfidentbee

3/2/2010 3:43:54 AM

What does Oprah really think about Public Education in the U.S? I wonder. She has donated so much money to school and even built her own school in Africa, but what about in the United States?

Anonymous

4/16/2010 11:04:00 AM

Oprah; I just came back from south africa. I stayed one hour away from your girls academy, unfortunately I could not visit the school. As a science teacher, that was one place I longed to visit but I never get to . I am just curious, what does it take to work in your academy because I am ready to relocate. I have taught for about 21 years in the public school in USA. Please honestly answer my question. Can I be recruited? I will be a better candidate for your school. Think about it. Love anonymouscalifornia

Anonymous

7/14/2010 4:58:01 PM