Oprah Gives Away $1000 Debit Cards

[kealina]

there are tons of things we could do with that not including ourselves or our families... although i love the idea of lots of little RAOK and would normally do something like that right now i'd definately give it to my good friend... she just moved in with another friend (rent-free) last month and is trying to get her life together after divorce so she can take custody of her three young daughters... unfortunately, her and her husband were far from frugal and she has very little in the way of assets (nothing but her clothes and a few odds and ends) and could really use that money...
she's currently saving for a cheap but dependable car to drive to work so she can take the first steps to being independant again and that's probably what the money would go towards...

[nancy58]

I would donate $250 to each of the following:
1) Local food pantry - for Holiday gift baskets
2) Local Library - for sustaining the "free" internet service and book purchases
Then I would invest the balance of $500 into an scholarship annunity for functionally disabled students who are willing to further their education, with the agreement that when they are employed, they then pay back the money to the annunity to continue additional scholorships.

[lrjohnson]

$500 to make a "loan" through Kiva.org (was on a Frontline special, the money is loaned to Ugandan women to start small businesses.) As each loan got repaid, I'd keep re-loaning.

$500 in cash, twenties, to hand out to people on the street. Jon Carroll, the SF Chronicle columnist, called it the Untied Way. Give a crisp twenty or two to a homeless bum. Don't worry about whether he spends it on a flophouse or a decent meal or a bottle of booze. Just hand it over. I'm not advocating other people do this. It wouldn't be for everybody. I know that whether these people caused their problems or not, many are suffering, in mind, body, spirit. Even if they are a jerk, they are paying for it-cold, hungry, no one looking them in the eye. One night, one time, they get a twenty when they ask for a buck.

[MarianneJ]

I am one of those suckers who always gave to the homeless when I lived in San Diego. Similar to what you said, it is not my job to determine whether or not these people caused their own problems or "deserve" the situations they are in. If I can help in some small way, I will try. We are all human beings.

Someone on one of the boards I belong to has a quote in their sig that I find very thought provoking and beautiful. It is "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle". Ain't that the truth?!

I am not an animal person so I find it interesting that a few people would give at least a portion to animal charities. That is so strange to me. I would definitely give it to people...preferably to strangers in a completely anonymous way. I believe karma or whatever you want to call it would take over and that money would find its' way into the hands it needs to be in. What is kind of interesting is that I am different with money I earn than with "found money" like Oprah is offering. I figure it was never mine to begin with so I tend to want the universe to help me disperse it!

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by MarianneJ

I am not an animal person so I find it interesting that a few people would give at least a portion to animal charities. That is so strange to me. I would definitely give it to people...preferably to strangers in a completely anonymous way. I believe karma or whatever you want to call it would take over and that money would find its' way into the hands it needs to be in. What is kind of interesting is that I am different with money I earn than with "found money" like Oprah is offering. I figure it was never mine to begin with so I tend to want the universe to help me disperse it!

you bring up an interesting question about why folks would give their money to animals, and for me it's because they are helpless and not in control of their situation. an animal has no control over their master, who may decide to beat them or dump them in a parking lot. or worse (and i've seen worse). they suffer because people see them as 'things', not as living creatures.

it's essentially the same reason i would give $ to a homeless shelter or a domestic abuse shelter: there are some places in life that are so deep, you can't get out of them without a little help from someone else. i think that applies to humans and animals alike.

[Thrifty Ray]

Do you all remember the recent Oprah show on mothers around the globe...where the woman carted heavy items up a hill to earn $.25 each day.....I would find that woman and make it so she never had to earn $.25 a day ever again!!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by tinapbeana

you bring up an interesting question about why folks would give their money to animals, and for me it's because they are helpless and not in control of their situation. an animal has no control over their master, who may decide to beat them or dump them in a parking lot. or worse (and i've seen worse). they suffer because people see them as 'things', not as living creatures.

The exact same argument could apply to children.

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

The exact same argument could apply to children.

very true, which is why part of my money would go to the domestic abuse shelter: a large portion of their occupants are children.

[nanamom]

That would be really fun. I would love to go to my pastor and find out the stats on a family that needs a hand and arrange whatever repairs are needed and make sure there was a treat for them as well. With that amount you could do it for a couple families.