Original Air Date:
Monday, April 20, 2008
Big Give Million Dollar Winner Stephen:
Oprah welcomed The Big Give season 1 million dollar winner Stephen for his first interview. Stephen explained that he didn't expect to win anything, just to be named the biggest giver and have the experience from the show. When he found out about the million dollars, Stephen shared that he was blown away. Stephen expected the finale to be about the contestants past accomplishments and how they felt about the experience, but he was thrilled with his prize. Stephen is now working with Eric from the show to use the $500,000 is a big way.
Stephen and Eric want to shine a light on the givers that are getting their hands dirty and not expecting any credit for it. The pair is working building homes in Africa and in New Orleans and hope to turn the money in to much more and continue to give big.
Oprah showed the clip of Stephen's favorite moment from the show, when he talked to a man named Atlantis while working at a shelter. Atlantis was on the show and Stephen was able to surprise him with a new car donated by Ford - Atlantis was able to choose 1 of 6 options and picked the 2008 Ford Explorer!
Brandi and Cameron Big Give Finalists:
Brandi and Cameron were also on the show for their first interview after coming close to winning, but both said that the experience was life changing. Brandi felt strongly that it wasn't about the money, but about the connection with the people they were helping, while Cameron was really proud of his accomplishments on the show. Cameron and Brandi are working together along with Virgin in Africa and Brandi is also working in her hometown of Sierra Vista, Arizona.
Viewer Trey Gonzalez's Big Give:
On the March 10, 2008 episode viewer Trey Gonzalez was given $10,000 of starting money and 5 days to pull off a big give of his own. Trey decided to help the Interfaith House in Chicago and gathered a group of friends to make it happen. Trey landed the new Trump building for his fundraiser and even made an announcement for the event over the radio. In the 2 hours of the fundraiser, Trey and his team were able to raise over $100,000 and in total raised over $458,000 for the Interfaith House.
4-Year-Old Drew's Big Give:
Inspired by Oprah's Big Give Drew decided for his 5th birthday that he wanted to give his gifts away so his mom found a family through their church. What started out as gifts for Drew's birthday turned into donations of all kinds for the family. Drew and his team were able to get the family donated furniture to fill their home and toys for the kids. After the first give, the church expanded the idea and more donations kept flooding in of food, clothing, furniture, toys, baby supplies, kitchen items and more.
Drew's parents Shannon and Jeff were on the show and shared that in total $18,000 of cash and $10,000 worth of items had been raised. The family is hoping to run out of families who need help before they would run out of people to give.
Oprah's Big Give and ABC Stations:
Oprah's Big Give partnered with 90 ABC stations giving each $10,000 to start a giving movement in the community and the stations raised over $4 million dollars! In Dallas, Texas a peanut butter drive raised $117,000 for a food bank that feeds kids on the weekends. Orlando, Florida raised $110,000 for a mentoring program for kids. In Fresno, California $100,000 was raised to put smoke alarms in homes inspired by 2 girls killed in a house fire. The town that raised the most was Fort Wayne, Indiana that raised $1.2 million dollars for 40 miles of walking and bike trails.
Oprah's Puppy Mill Update:
After the show investigating puppy mills, Oprah was flooded by reports from shelters getting record number of people to adopt and pet stores calling to clear that they didn't use puppy mills for their dogs. Inspired by the Big Give, Sophie's passing away and the puppy mill investigation, Oprah found a no-kill shelter in Chicago called PAWS Chicago owned by Paula Fasseas. Oprah visited the shelter where she found a beautiful and clean building where the animals are given rooms and not cages and have a rooftop to run and play.
Oprah decided to sponsor a room in honor of Sophie and also gave the shelter $10,000 from Target. Oprah's cameras went back to the shelter where Paula revealed the room that had been decorated with Sophie's picture and painted banner on the wall, giving 2 dogs a great place to live until they are adopted.
