The Houses That Oprah Built
By Shawn Reeves

Two years after television talk show personality Oprah Winfrey announced "Oprah's Angel Network" and challenged millions of viewers to make the world a better place, the goal of building nearly 200 Habitat houses nationwide has been reached.

During its first season, the Angel Network launched a campaign to partner with Habitat for Humanity affiliates to build a Habitat house in every city whose local television station broadcasts "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Thousands of volunteers donated their labor and hundreds of corporations contributed financially over the past 24 months.

In late April, a three-bedroom Habitat house in Chicago, the home city of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," was dedicated. The funds for the house were the personal donation of Winfrey. In addition, the "Harpo Team" staffers at Harpo Productions and producers of the show helped work on homeowner Peggy Long's house. Thanks, Oprah! And thank you, all Angels.

Shawn Reeves is a writer with Habitat for Humanity International.


Reprinted from Habitat World Magazine, October/November 1999.
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©1999 Habitat for Humanity International