Host Nate Berkus meets the remaining nine contestants in Denver, where Oprah fills them in on their next challenge—"Fast and Furious." In this test, each giver has $4,800 and only 48 hours to change lives in a city filled with millions of stories. "Stay on your toes," Oprah says. "A big twist is coming!"
Eric, Stephen and Cameron decide to team up because, as Cameron says, "Three heads are better than one." Since they all have a soft spot for children, the trio decides to give big to the Denver Children's Home, a safe haven for emotionally distressed children who have been traumatized and abused.
The home has to raise $1 million a year just to keep the doors open and is in desperate need of a new playground. "We help really hurt children get better," executive director Rebecca Hea says. "I believe that if you help children, you help change the world."
Brandi begins the challenge at the Denver Public Library, where she learns about Mary Henry, a single mother who's working toward her master's degree and has hit a string of bad luck. Mary's story touches Brandi, and she's determined to get Mary's tuition paid off.
"If I could pick anyone to help, it would be a single mom," Brandi says. "I hope the judges see I did something a little different."
Angelo wants to help a military family because of his own service background. The American Legion puts him touch with Jason, whose shoulder was injured in the Army.
"I've had surgery, but I'm still unable to work," Jason says. "I'm worried about making sure my kids have food, clothes, a roof over their head. If our financial situation doesn't improve soon, we'll lose the car and the house."
Angelo knows he needs to help. "Jason is unable to work, and the bills are piling up. I have $4,800, and that is not enough to get him set," Angelo says. "Time is running out. I need to focus, focus, focus."
Carlana approaches a complete stranger on the street and realizes that, as
she says, "fate has stepped in."
Roger Cobb's 16-year-old stepdaughter, Blair, is developmentally disabled. "She can't communicate, she can't walk unassisted, she can't potty, she can't feed herself," Roger says. "We've been looking for ways to help her with communication because she does respond to sight and sound."
The story resonates with Carlana because she has a nephew with special needs. "Immediately, I knew that this challenge, the Cobb family, became my purpose," she says. "My biggest frustration right now is that I have 43 hours left, and that's not a lot of time to help a family."
After meeting the rest of the Cobbs, Carlana learns that on top of needing more resources for Blair, they also need help sending her brother, Brice, to college.
Carlana knows that she
must make miracles happen. "I cannot let this family down."
For his Big Give, Sheg heads to the children's hospital at Denver Health's Newborns in Need.
"These babies come into the world, and their families can't buy diapers, clothes or a car seat," says Robin Engleberg, the center's program manager.
After meeting new parents facing financial difficulties, Sheg surprises them with cash. "The whole idea of giving big is to get involved and give people emotional and financial support," he says.
At the start of the challenge, Kim contacts the Denver Broncos and learns that the team works closely with the local Boys & Girls Club. Rich Barrows, the director of the club, tells Kim that every day the club welcomes 300 kids, ages 6 to 18, from violent neighborhoods. The center is a safe alternative—somewhere they can get a free meal and do homework.
"I decided I was going to get cool prizes for their homework auction next week, the kind of things they can't afford," Kim says. "You will be amazed by what I can do in 40 hours!"
Rachael meets with the women of the Empowerment Program, a support group for ex-convicts with drug addictions or HIV. Rachael wants give the women a day of rest and relaxation.
"My plan is to surprise the women with a day of pampering by securing a spa and a restaurant," Rachael says. "I only have 42 hours. I have got a lot of work to do!"
Angelo meets with Jake, the manager of a local T.G.I. Friday's, to share Jason's story. "We're always willing to donate to a great cause like this," says Jake, who offers to host a party to raise money for Jason.
Jake's enthusiasm lights a fire in Angelo. "Nobody can beat me in this challenge," he says. "I'm setting the standards right here."
Eric, Stephen and Cameron work with the Denver Children's Home staff to raise money and the Big Gives roll in—from a climbing wall to a $2,300 irrigation donation.
"Everyone came together," Cameron says. "But we're all going to be judged individually. They're going to expect three times the results."
The Big twist! Oprah dials up the pressure when she sends a text message to the contestants in Denver: "You have 24 hours to give away the new Ford Edge you're driving. Find someone deserving and choose wisely."
Brandi knows Mary recently had an accident that totaled her car, so on top of helping Mary pay off her tuition, Brandi hands over the keys to a brand new car.
"I'm still in total shock," Mary says. "That somebody actually thought that I mattered enough to help me out—that is amazing."
As soon as Sheg receives Oprah's text message, he knows what he wants to do. "When Robin told me that mothers wrap their babies in towels and borrow bus tokens to get home from the hospital, I said that in the spirit of giving big, I was going to give this car to the center," Sheg says. "I hope it touches many more lives."
Kim is giving the kids of The Boys & Girls Club a great reason to study—iPods, art classes and stereos for their homework auction at the end of the school year. Plus, she's secured a surprise visit from Denver Bronco Jay Cutler!
"[Giving is] addictive," Kim says. "When you get started, I'm telling you, you don't want to stop."
After a day of spa pampering, Rachael takes the women of the Empowerment Group to dinner. "I really want to take the time to allow the women to share their stories," Rachael says.
The Empowerment Group can't get over Rachael's kindness. "Today, we just got blessed," says one of the group members. "Rachael just let us be people instead of being HIV women."
For her big reveal, Carlana gives the Cobbs $5,000 for an assessment for Blair at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and an assistive technology device so she can start communicating with her family. Carlana also has a check for $5,850 to go toward Brice's education.
After leaving the Cobbs' home, Carlana gives her car to a paralyzed man who just got out of rehab. "What an honor to be able to give a gift of that magnitude," Carlana says. "A car, to somebody like me, represents independence."
Stephen, Cameron and Eric's big reveal includes office furniture, lighting and playground equipment and a contractor who's donating time and material for a Children's Home renovation. Plus, Stephen and Cameron hand over their car keys.
"It's really important to give the kids things that allow them to heal and to be kids," says program director Rebecca Hea. "Eric, Cameron and Steve came in and said, 'We can make that happen.' And they did. They didn't just dream it, they executed it."
It's a night of celebration with Jason's friends and family at T.G.I. Friday's. At the end of the party, Angelo counts out $100 bills—46 in all!— for Jason to get back on his feet. The restaurant donates the day's profits to Jason as well.
To pay Jake, the manager, back for helping out with his Big Give, Angelo sends him off with a new Ford Edge.
At the elimination, the judges question Angelo's decision to give his car to Jake, the restaurant manager, instead of someone more in need of transportation. When Nate hands out the envelopes, Angelo's is empty.
"If that restaurant manager hadn't given Angelo the idea for that fundraiser, he really wouldn't have had that much at all to give to Jason and his family," Jamie says. "And the car! What happened with the car? The restaurant manager wasn't the person in need!"
After being sent home during the second episode of Oprah's Big Give, Angelo travels to Chicago to discuss his experience and questionable car giveaway.
Angelo was eliminated after he decided to give his new car to Jake—a restaurant manager who already owned two vehicles—instead of the soldier he was committed to helping. Though time was running low when he handed over the keys, Angelo says his decision wasn't impulsive.
"I felt [Jake] was so deserving because he brought the community together. They gave all that they could [and] asked nothing in return," he says. "That's what I thought the Big Give was all about. So, in that moment, that's why I decided to give it to someone who showed those attributes."
Despite an early exit from the show, Angelo says being a contestant was an excellent experience. "It meant very much for me to be able to do those things for the families," he says.
Malaak Compton-Rock, one of the judges who voted to send Angelo home, says she's inspired every week by the contestants' commitment to giving.
After the first episode aired, Malaak says her husband, Chris Rock, sent her a text message from his stand-up comedy tour that said, "Congratulations, honey. You have a hit show."
High ratings aren't the only positive things surrounding this show. "Everyone I've talked to…they're just so inspired by it," she says. "I feel so blessed to be a part of this movement."
Malaak continues to help spread the giving spirit across America. For the first episode, she hosted a Big Give viewing party at the home of music mogul Antonio "L.A." Reid and his wife, Erica. Each guest was asked to bring shoes to donate to New York's Henry Street Settlement for the homeless. One unexpected guest, Project Runway's Tim Gunn, surprised the hosts by donating 500 pairs on behalf of Liz Claiborne!
Once all the shoes were loaded into a truck, Malaak and Erica drove to New York's Henry Street Settlement to make a special delivery.
"One thing I love about Henry Street Settlement, it is not just a homeless organization," Malaak says. "Their goal is to get them into jobs and back into permanent housing."
Inside the shelter, women gathered around to receive their new shoes. Verona, the shelter's executive director, says many of these women fled dangerous situations and arrived with nothing but the clothes on their backs. "Thank you so much for thinking of the people that we serve," she says. "We have a lot of need in this community and, particularly, in our shelters."
Special thanks to all those who helped during this episode of Oprah's Big Give
