OPRAH WINFREY ASKS...

United States
November 27, 2006 9:49am CST
According to an question on Yahoo Answers, Oprah Winfrey asks, "If you were given $1,000 with the understanding that it had to be used to help others, how would you use the money and why?"... http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20061121155642AA9yYO2&fr=hp
1 person likes this
14 responses
@design (849)
• Ireland
11 Dec 06
Gee hard question as $1000 not alot(well certinly not here in Ireland anyhow, equals about €1200)I think i would buy education equipment and some farm animals through concern for a family in Africa. But on my own door step a neighbour lost her husband recently so would her the money as she has young kids.
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• United States
19 Dec 06
You are so right. It can aid a community not just a single family, if they are shown the proper way to use it. What a wonderful gift that would be. Thank you and have a happy holiday, may you be blessed.
• United States
18 Dec 06
That is wonderful to help out a neighbor in need. It will be hard for her, especially in the beginning. I wish her well and peace in this rough time. I like the idea too of providing educational tools and farming animals to aid families. Those are gifts that keep on giving. Great ideas. Thank you so much for sharing.
@design (849)
• Ireland
18 Dec 06
Yes it great to see families learn from things they receive like animals etc that way they can teach those in their community and breed/use as food source their animals.so much better than giving them things(not that its not needed)but it goes a step further.
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@JoeyCa (1810)
• Belgium
27 Nov 06
unicef - Unicef helps poor children
I guess I would donate it too unicef xxx
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Dec 06
That is a very worthwhile cause. Unicef is a great charity. Thank you for your response.
• United States
1 Dec 06
No hon. MyLot was having some problems, they all got added to you, I hope, by now. I know it didn't count many of mine as well. I believe that problem is all fixed today though.
• United States
5 Jan 07
well, orphanages, and donations to Africa are nice, but I do feel we need to do a little more for charities that don't get the funding they should! If I was given 1000 dollars to help someone I would give to a chd charity like the chd quilt charity. This charity makes quilt squares for anyone who has a child with a chd, and you can request one made for your child. I am donating some money to the charity in my aunts honor. She just passed away.
• United States
6 Jan 07
I am sorry to hear about your Aunt. My condolences are with you and your family. I have never heard of this charity, but it sounds like a wonderful one. Every little bit we do, helps in some way, even if it is just making people more aware of the diffenent charities available. Thank you for sharing. Bless you and your family.
@Kelian (768)
• Trinidad And Tobago
27 Nov 06
I would find a needy family who need some renovations on a house or food or something and do what I can to help them. I’ll probably try to invest some of the money in the family’s name so they can at least have some savings/earnings in the future. I don't think one can do much for charity with $1000. It would make more of a difference to one family than it would to many different organizations who get corporate sponsorship.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Nov 06
That's a good thought. $1,000 isn't much these days in some places. I have to agree that helping one family does sound like a good route to go. I disagree though, I do think $1000 donated to a specific charity can and does help, even if it is only in a small way. Thanks for your reply.
• United States
27 Nov 06
That's a good thought. $1,000 isn't much these days in some places. I have to agree that helping one family does sound like a good route to go. I disagree though, I do think $1000 donated to a specific charity can and does help, even if it is only in a small way. Thanks for your reply.
@ipanks (890)
• Indonesia
27 Nov 06
oprah winfrey - oprah winfrey
i use that money for human foundation.because i want to make charity
• United States
27 Nov 06
Thanks for the reply.
• United States
5 Dec 06
What is the human foundation? I haven't heard of them before.
• Canada
3 Jan 07
Well, since $1,000 isn't really that much money in the scheme of things, I think I would use it to help maybe two families to learn the skills necessary to help themselves, if they wanted to learn, that is. By that I mean, financial skills, budgeting, saving, credit, smart shopping and how to start a small business on a shoestring. Network Marketing is a great venue to do that. I would use the money to start them off, show them what they had to do, show them how to reinvest to make more, plan goals and make the plan to reach the goals. I would work with them for about a year, and then let them fly on their own, if they felt ready, but I would help them along, every step of the way. Part of the deal, would be that they would then have to find two families each, and help them do the same.
• United States
6 Jan 07
Exactly what I think it is all about. Using that money as seed money to help someone else learn how to do for themselves. I don't know if I would go about it the way you suggest, but I think it is important to teach others, how to plant food, take care of livestock, and build for themselves. Life is a growth process. Thank you for sharing your ideas.
@wvchell78 (564)
• United States
29 Dec 06
I watched the show when the guests that she had given the $1000 to returned to tell what they did. I actually cried watching it. There was so much good that was done with this money and so many of them got donations and had much more money. If I were given $1000 I would donate it to the local Genesis Youth Center. They take in children that are waiting to be placed by social services and runaways that are being evaluated. It is located in an old orphanage and they need a new building. The last information I seen on the news said it will take them 10 years to get the funding. I would organize a fund drive starting with the $1000.
• United States
29 Dec 06
That is great. "Grow your money." That way you can help more. A fund drive to raise more money and awareness of certain charity or organization is one of the best ways to help. I love your thoughts, they are beautiful. What an inspiration you must be to your family and friends. God Bless in the New Year. Thank you for sharing.
@michele609 (1687)
• United States
19 Dec 06
I would donate it to toys for tots because there is alot of children that are not going to have a wonderful Christmas because that are not a lucky as some of us and I think that ever child desreves a smile on there face on that Christmas morning!
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Dec 06
I will agree with you there. Every child deserves to wake up to at least one gift under the tree on Christmas morning. My hubby used to make cradles and put dolls in them to give to the Tree of Giving. That was when he was doing wood working. Now we just pick names off the tree. I wish he would get back into the woodworking, he really made beautiful things. Thank you for sharing. Bless you.
• United States
19 Dec 06
I'd probably use some of the money to buy my friend's son some new clothes that he really needs. As well as a good stock of diapers for him. Then I'd go and give to the Tree of Sharing we have around here for the rest of what I had left.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Dec 06
We have a Tree of Sharing here too. I love it. Helping your friend out is the best though. When we can give to those closest to us, it can mean so much to them, instead of just coming from a stranger. You have a wonderful heart, bless you during the holidays. Thank you for responding.
@kristi73 (257)
• United States
19 Dec 06
I know some needy children that could use some new clothes and such, so i think I would start there and then I would but somethings for toys for tots. Then my next stop would to go to the local womens shelter and drop off presents for mothers and children there. Then I would love to go to some of the care homes for elderly and see what I could do there to make the holiday better. so many ideas that I wish I really had the money.
• United States
19 Dec 06
I know what you mean. My mind is running rampart with what I could do with the money. It would run out way before I had the chance to fulfill all the things I'd like to do. You have some wonderful thoughts and I like the way you would spread it around to different people. I especially liked the elderly homes...so often they are the ones that are completely forgotten during this time of year. Bless you for your generous heart. Thanks for responding.
@jithinsb (518)
• India
19 Dec 06
I also wud give it to any charity funds like UNICEF..this will do good to others...there are many poor people in this world who shud be helped!!!
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Dec 06
I agree with you. There are many in need. It is unfortunate that many people only think of helping those in need at Christmas time, instead of it being an ongoing process throughout the year. Unicef is a wonderful charity. Bless you and thank you for replying.
• United States
2 Jan 07
Good question, then again I'm not surprised. Oprah is the queen of good questions. It would be hard to chose but I think my first pick would be helping the hungry. It's the biggest issue on my heart most of the time. I think I would try to find a way to invest most or all of it though so it can grow into more and not be just a one time donation.
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• United States
6 Jan 07
Exactly, my thought, some way to invest it. Or build community gardens so that many can be fed, and they will continue being fed from the garden area year after year. It is tough, because that isn't a lot of money, so you would need to find the wisest long-term way for it to be used. Thanks for sharing. I like your idea.
@audraac (109)
• United States
3 Jan 07
I would probably give to my sister. She is rasing her grandchildren and has been very short on money lately.
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• United States
6 Jan 07
That would be wonderful of you. It is tough when grandparents are forced/pushed back into the parenting role for their grandkids. Luckily, I am not, but my sister was also. So I understand how hard it is on the entire family. Bless you and your family. Hugs my friend. Thanks for replying.
19 Dec 06
I would use it to uncover all the fraud that is being perpetuated in the name of helping others
• United States
19 Dec 06
Ok, I don't really know what to say about that. I do know that it isn't all fraud, and that there are many individuals out there that really do help others and make a difference in the lives of those that need help. I think that being crass and filled with negativity only hurts those that are in real need. Thank you for your comment.
• United States
19 Dec 06
Thank you SKSOUTH. I think he just wanted to say something. He'd probably spend the money on himself, lol.