25 of the World’s Most Inspiring Women
For GIVING HOPE—AND HOMES—TO KATRINA SURVIVORS When those first disturbing images of a storm-ravaged Gulf Coast hit the news, the talk-show queen said she found herself in the same position as a lot of folks—sitting at home, feeling frustrated and useless. But then she did what the government hasn’t quite done: pledged that she would not forget the evacuees, and mean it. Winfrey, 52, partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build a neighborhood in Houston for 65 families displaced by the hurricane. She even created an online registry so viewers could help furnish the houses being built. In February the first wave of families moved into their new homes. She plans to provide housing for more than 250 families in total and has committed $10 million of her own money to help rebuild Katrina survivors’ lives. “Everybody has to do what they can,” she told CNN. —n.s.
Find out the other 15 World's Most Inspiring Women in the May issue of Essence! On newsstands April 18, 2006. |
