Earle Lee
Thanks to you, our generous viewers, and Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos, we are giving away over one million dollars in awards and big surprises to real life angels who are changing lives and creating miracles!  
Boys' Choir of Tallahassee
Choir director Earle Lee is getting boys off the streets and on to center stage.  

Camp Harmony
Robin Segal is a mother who started a summer camp to help hundreds of homeless children find some joy.  

The SEED School
Rajiv Vinnakota and Eric Adler are two Ivy League graduates who gave up their high-paying jobs to give inner-city children a chance at a better education.  

Young Aspirations/Young Artists (YA/YA)
Artist Jana Napoli saw potential where others saw problems and turned local teens into world-renowned artists.

Food From The 'Hood  
A group of Los Angeles high school students are making salad dressing to send themselves to college!  

Donate to Oprah's Angel Network
Exactly 100 percent of the money you donate goes directly to the people that Oprah's Angel Network helps. Find out how you can donate now!  
Earle and Oprah
Received by:
Earle Lee, Jr.

Sponsored by:
You, the Viewers

This renowned choir isn't just making beautiful music—it's saving boys from a dangerous life on the streets.

Reaching Out to Troubled Boys  
Director Earle Lee believes that even boys with a troubled past deserve a future. Although parents sometimes make their sons join the choir, it's often the boys who become the best recruiters. "We've created a village where we look after each other," says Earle. "It's amazing to see one boy helping another boy."

To make sure that any boy can join the Boys' Choir of Tallahassee, auditions are not required. "The word 'audition' tends to scare children with low self-esteem," explains Earle.

High Notes and Academic Heights  
The choir program gives the boys new structure and a goal: college. "Music is the tool we use to get them into boys' choir," says Earle. "Once we get them in and get them singing, we structure them academically. It does not matter how well they sing, once they finish that last note, they must be able to pass a standardized test and get into college."

The award-winning choir has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and was invited to sing for the Pope in Italy. Of all the boys' impressive accomplishments, Earle is most proud of the fact that since the first graduating class in 1998, every graduate of the program has gone on to college. "Our goal is to help these young men be whatever they want to be in life," says Earle. "The sky is the limit for the boys."  

Special Thanks to Perry Ellis
Perry Ellis America Formalwear is donating 150 brand new tuxedos to the choir! Visit www.perryellis.com to learn more about the company.

See what's on the Boys' Choir Wish List.

For more information, please contact:
Earle Lee, Jr.
Boys' Choir of Tallahassee
Florida State University School of Social Work
2501 University Center
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570
PH: 850-644-9741
FAX: 850-644-9750
E-mail: elee@mailer.fsu.edu
www.tlhbct.com
Boys
How You Can Help
Want to get involved with the Boys' Choir? See what's on their wish list or volunteer!

Wish List
  • Books (novels, dictionaries, encyclopedias, thesauruses, music history, music theory)
  • School supplies (notebook paper, pens, pencils, etc.)
  • Study hall snacks (chips, crackers, etc.)
  • Computers with Internet access/cd rom, etc.
  • Tutorial computer software (Dell compatible)
  • Scholarships for music camps

Volunteer Opportunities
  • Tutors are needed in Math, Science and English

For more information, please contact:
Earle Lee, Jr.
Boys' Choir of Tallahassee
Florida State University School of Social Work
2501 University Center
Tallahassee, FL 32306-2570
PH: 850-644-9741
FAX: 850-644-9750
E-mail: elee@mailer.fsu.edu
www.tlhbct.com
Campers
Received by:
Robin Segal

Sponsored by:
You, the Viewers

The average age of a homeless person in the United States is nine years old. Robin Segal started a summer camp to help children escape the harsh realities of being homeless and reclaim their spirits.  

A Camp to Call Home
Now celebrating its 13th season, Camp Harmony has changed the lives of thousands of children. The motto: "Give them all the love they can take, and all the food they can eat."

For one week in August, 170 homeless children from a variety of shelters come to Camp Harmony. The main objectives of the camp are for the children to have fun, receive lots of love, food and attention, and to learn the importance of staying in school.

"Some of the things we really try to do are build up their self-esteem and let them know they can take control of their lives and be someone," says Robin.

Some of the children only come with the clothes on their backs, making it difficult for them to participate in the activities at camp (like swimming). The camp provides each child with items that they need. Many of the children leave camp with new clothing, toiletries and any extras the camp can provide.

Counselors Learn a Lesson in Life
The counselors at the camp are high school students who actually pay to be counselors—they learn to help their community and those less fortunate.

"We can give these teens something money can't buy—the opportunity to give of themselves. The impact it has on the campers is fantastic, and the impact it has on the teenagers can change their perspectives on life forever. It's changing lives at both ends of the spectrum, and we help people come together that would ordinarily walk by each other without even thinking about it," says Robin.

Special Thanks to Lands' End  
Lands' End is giving each of these children "Clothes for a Year," 35 items each! Plus, a sleeping bag backpack, and a beach towel for camp. Visit www.landsend.com.

See what's on Camp Harmony's Wish List.    

For more information, please contact:  
Robin Segal
Camp Harmony
270 N. Canon Drive #1087
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
PH: 310-273-4775 or 866-254-3722
FAX: 310-275-5786
E-mail: Robin@Unitedinharmony.org
www.unitedinharmony.org  
Campers
How You Can Help
Want to get involved with Camp Harmony? See what's on their wish list!

Wish List
  • Computers, monitors and printers
  • Digital camera
  • Vans (15 passenger)
  • Golf cart
  • 2-way radios
  • Large screen TV with video projector
  • Flashlights
  • Duffle bags (extra large)
  • Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste)
  • Beach and pool toys
  • Arts and crafts supplies
  • Sports equipment
  • Carnival toys and supplies
  • Children's clothing (sweatshirts and pants, socks, underwear)
  • Swimsuits
  • Tennis shoes


Volunteer Opportunities
  • High School Teenagers Counselors: Unfortunately, positions for the 2002 summer camp counselors have already been filled. Future opportunities will be at the Holiday Party in December as well as two weeks of camp during the 2003 summer.
  • Adult Support Staff at Camp to lead programs such as arts and crafts, song leading, sports, dance, music, etc. with counselors
  • Speakers Program: Adults share life experiences with the children such as strategies for overcoming lifes obstacles as well as choosing a career path.
  • Special Events including Annual Sports Clinic and Camp Harmony Reunion


For more information, please contact:
Robin Segal
Camp Harmony
270 N. Canon Drive #1087
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
PH: 310-273-4775 or 866-254-3722
FAX: 310-275-5786
E-mail: Robin@Unitedinharmony.org
www.unitedinharmony.org
Rajiv, Eric and Oprah
Received by:
Rajiv Vinnakota and Eric Adler
Sponsored by:
Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com

Rajiv Vinnakota and Eric Adler, two Ivy League graduates, gave up their high-paying consulting jobs to give inner-city children a priceless gift: a chance for a better education. "[Being a management consultant] was a great job, but that was not the social footprint that I wanted to leave. I really wanted to make a difference in people's lives," says Rajiv.  

Planting the Seed
The SEED Public Charter School is the first of its kind: a public boarding school built in the inner-city for grades 7 through 12. "Our kids, many of them, come from very poor neighborhoods and they're hard neighborhoods to grow up in," explains Eric. "We know that if students are going to succeed in school, they need to have had a good night's sleep, a good meal, have taken a shower, be in clean clothes, and have done their homework to be prepared for the day."  

Not Just a School, a New Home
At the SEED School, students receive 24-hour supervision, tutoring and life-skills training. The school has very high academic standards, with only 14 students per teacher and a rigorous college-prep curriculum. Students who study the hardest are rewarded with trips to places like New York City and even Greece. Their ultimate destination is college.

Because of the positive changes SEED is making in kids' lives, demand to get into the school is high, so all students are chosen by a lottery system. Established in 1998 with only 40 students, there are now 150. In the fall of 2002, the number of students will double to 300!  

Special Thanks to All the Angels  
SEED is currently building a new dorm to accommodate the growing student population. Oprah's Angel Network is providing enough beds, desks and dressers for all 150 new students. The Angels at Linens 'n Things (www.LNT.com) are donating bed and bath linens, and fun accessories for all 300 students!

That's not all! Every student will receive a high-performance Gateway computer made possible by a gift to the Angel Network from Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos. And Gateway (www.gateway.com) is donating a new printer for all 150-dorm rooms!

See what's on the SEED School's Wish List.  

For more information, please contact:
Rajiv Vinnakota and Eric Adler
The SEED Public Charter School
c/o The SEED Foundation
1712 Eye St., NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20006
PH: 202-785-4123
FAX: 202-785-4124
E-mail: SeedFoundation@seedfoundation.com
www.seedfoundation.com  
School
How You Can Help
Want to get involved with the SEED school? See what's on their wish list!

Wish List
  • Library reading books
  • Books on tape (fiction)
  • Educational and entertainment videos
  • TV/VCR combinations
  • Office supplies
  • Photo copier and white 8x10 copy paper
  • Tents and camping equipment
  • Office furniture, sturdy couches
  • 2-way radios
  • PC-compatible Computer/Video projector with A/V cables


For more information, please contact:
Rajiv Vinnakota and Eric Adler
The SEED Public Charter School
c/o The SEED Foundation
1712 Eye St., NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20006
PH: 202-785-4123
FAX: 202-785-4124
E-mail: SeedFoundation@seedfoundation.com
www.seedfoundation.com
Jana and Oprah
Received by:
Jana Napoli

Sponsored by:
Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com

One artist saw potential where others saw problems—and turned local teens into world-renowned artists.  

Kids

Seeing Creative Potential  
YA/YA gives inner-city teens, many of them from low-income homes, scholarships, skills and a voice. From the beginning, YA/YA attracted teens that didn't even know they had a talent for art.

Artist Jana Napoli had a studio in downtown New Orleans, where there was a lot of tension between merchants and the high school students who were bussed in for school. "When I looked at the kids, I saw an enormous amount of creative energy. I thought, 'I bet there are some artists out there. I bet if they had a studio, they could do some great things,'" says Jana. So, she opened her studio doors to the local teenagers. 
 
Painting a Brighter Future  
It was too expensive to paint canvasses, so they began by painting thrift-shop furniture. Now, they're creating works of art for Fortune 500 companies and designing for celebrities. Their high-profile list of clients has included Swatch, MTV, The United Nations, Burger King, Whoopi Goldberg and Spike Lee.

Education and art go hand-in-hand at YA/YA—the students have to attain good grades to participate. They also learn strong business skills from selling their artwork. 50 percent of their profits go directly to the artists, and the other 50 percent is set aside for their college tuition. "It's incredible to be there for the process of watching greatness unfold," says Jana. 
 
Special Thanks to Michaels Stores
When the angels at Michaels Stores, Inc. heard about Jana and her YA/YA artists, they surprised her with $100,000 worth of free art supplies! Visit www.michaels.com to learn more about Michaels Stores.

See what's on YA/YA's Wish List.  

For more information, please contact:
Jana Napoli
YA/YA, Inc.
(Young Aspirations/Young Artists)
601 Baronne St.
New Orleans, LA 70113
PH: 504-529-3306
FAX: 504-529-3212
E-mail: info@yayainc.com
www.yayainc.com  
Chairs
How You Can Help
Want to get involved with the YA/YAs? See what's on their wish list and learn about their volunteer opportunities!

Wish List
  • Art, design and popular culture magazine subscriptions—American and international (e.g. Architectural Digest, World of Interiors, W, The Surface, Art in America, Wallpaper)
  • "Coffee table" art books (e.g. African masks, European art, Asian art, modern and contemporary art, individual artists, and any art movements of human existance)
  • 2002 Encyclopedia set—Printed books and/or CD Rom version
  • Technical equipment/services (e.g. Design software, foreign language software, DSL/networking, digital projector)
  • Scholarships for art retreats, college seminars and tuition
  • Scaffolding for painting murals during community service and commercial projects
  • Sign plotter for cutting digital stencils (for fabric screen-printing and sign-making)
  • Carpentry tools and hardware—Cordless power tools, router, table saw, etc.

Volunteer Opportunities
  • Art instructors
  • Academic tutors
  • Exhibit assistants
  • Hosts for travel opportunities for YA/YAs within the United States and abroad (such as host universities, community organizations, arts institutions).

For more information, please contact:
Jana Napoli
YA/YA, Inc.
(Young Aspirations/Young Artists)
601 Baronne St.
New Orleans, LA 70113
PH: 504-529-3306
FAX: 504-529-3212
E-mail: info@yayainc.com
www.yayainc.com
Aleyne, Monique and Oprah
Received by:
Aleyne Larner and Monique Hunter
Sponsored by:
Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com

In one of the neighborhoods hit hardest by the Los Angeles riots of 1992, students found a way to revive their community in their own backyard.  

Planting New Hope  
Food From The 'Hood was created to help students convert a weed-infested, quarter-acre of dirt behind Crenshaw High School into a garden.

From the beginning, students donated most of the produce to shelters or to people who didn't have any money to buy fresh vegetables. "The garden became important because it was a way for us to give back to our community and show them that what they saw on TV during the riots wasn't really us," says one student.

Reaping the Benefits of a Good Harvest  
Once the students started selling the food at farmer's markets, they realized they could turn their profits into college scholarships. They created their own company to make and sell salad dressing made from all-natural ingredients. Suddenly, the students became successful entrepreneurs doing everything from creating recipes to designing labels!

Now a thriving student-owned business, Food From The 'Hood still donates its harvest to the needy. To date, the program has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships to 77 of its graduates.  

Special Thanks to General Motors  
General Motors donated a new van—a 2002 GMC Envoy XL sports utility vehicle—to help transport students and their products! Visit www.gmc.com to learn more about the van.

See what's on Food From The 'Hood's Wish List.  

For more information, please contact:  
Monique Hunter
Food From The 'Hood
6109 S. Western Ave. #102
Los Angeles, CA 90047
PH: 323-759-7000
FAX: 323-759-7070
E-mail: ffthi@aol.com
www.foodfromthehood.com  
Garden
How You Can Help
Want to get involved with Food From The 'Hood? See what's on their wish list or volunteer!

Wish List
  • Kitchen utensils (measuring cups, bowls, industrial blender, sample bottles with tops, knives, beakers)
  • Salad mixing bowl and tongs
  • SAT study guide books
  • Organic produce seeds
  • Garden tools (garden gloves, shovels, spade, hose, wheel barrows, garden shed, etc.)
  • Gift basket ingredients (salad fixings, pasta, croutons, vinegar, wooden bowls)
  • Gift basket ribbons
  • New company T-shirts
  • Refrigerator
  • Caddy or mobil cart with wheels
  • Luggage carrier
  • Palm pilots for company appointments
  • Laptops for sales team presentation
  • Computer printers
  • Color copier
  • Telephone headsets
  • Conference phones
  • Digital Camera for product photography
  • New company banner
  • Photograph software
  • Billboard space


Volunteer/Mentor Opportunities
  • Chaperone (Volunteer)
  • Board Appointments (Volunteer)
  • Transportation Driver (Volunteer)
  • Garden Work Day (Volunteer)
  • Supporter (Volunteer)
  • Business Speaker (Mentor)
  • Personal Student Mentor (Mentor)
  • Professional Consulting (Mentor)
If you would like to learn more about volunteering, please call 1-888-601-FOOD.

For more information, please contact:
Monique Hunter
Food From The 'Hood
6109 S. Western Ave. #102
Los Angeles, CA 90047
PH: 323-759-7000
FAX: 323-759-7070
E-mail: ffthi@aol.com
www.foodfromthehood.com

NEXT STORY

Next Story