Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey (http://blogharbor.files.wordpress.com/2008/02/oprah-winfrey.jpg)

When you hear the word hero, what comes to your mind? Someone who is kind, caring, giving, and loyal. The list could go on forever. There are many different people who fit that description. But, to me, that description fits Oprah Winfrey. I don't like Oprah just because she is about the most popular TV show host in America. I like her because she is so giving, and she doesn't do it just for publicity. She knows what it's like to be in average people's positions, and that's what makes her my hero.

Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954. As a child, Oprah did not live a very normal life. She was born to two teen parents who were not married. She lived in poverty with her parents. While she was young, her parents struggled to make money to feed the family. Then, she moved in with her grandmother and was forced to live in poverty for another six years. When Oprah turned thirteen, she was offered a scholarship at Nicolet High School. At the age of fourteen, Oprah was sent to Tennessee to live with a man that she considered her father. While in Tennessee, Oprah attended the public high school. In High School, Oprah landed a job in radio. At the age of nineteen, Oprah started to broadcast the local evening news. After Oprah broadcast the evening news, she hosted her own show called the Oprah Winfrey Show.

After Oprah became more popular from her show, she started to star in other movies. Oprah starred in "The Color Purple." She also played in "Charlotte's Web," and "The Bee Movie." Oprah still does her television show, but is now much more popular. Oprah not only hosts her own television show, but she also has two magazines, called O at home and O the Oprah magazine.

The main reason I think Oprah is my hero is because she does so many fundraisers for people in need. Oprah not only does her own fundraisers, but she also supports others. Oprah has a network called Oprah's Angel Network. This network has donated about $51,000,000 for charitable causes. Oprah not only raises money with the help from other people, she has donated $303,000,000 million dollars of her own money to charities. Oprah is such a giving person. She doesn't just give money to charities; she also gives items to people in need. In 2004, Oprah went to Africa and gave 50,000 presents to the children there for Christmas. Each child was also given a backpack filled with school supplies, two uniforms for their gender, two sets of socks, two sets of underwear, and two sets of shoes. In 2007, Oprah spent much of her time, and $40,000,000 establishing the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Johannesburg, in South Africa.

To some people, Oprah may be cool because she is on TV, or because she helps people with their everyday lives. But, to me, Oprah is more than just that. She is my hero.