Jody Victor: Oprah’s Angel Network honors Wintley Phipps with Use Your Life Award.

Oprah Winfrey announced Oprah's Angel Network on September 18, 1997, to inspire people to use their lives and to reap the truest rewards that come from giving to others. "I want you to open your hearts and see the world in a different way," said Oprah. "I promise this will change your life for the better."

Oprah's Angel Network is currently involved in building rural schools in 10 different countries (China, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Mexico, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone and Tanzania). Thirty-four schools have been built through Kids Can Free the Children, providing education for thousands of children in remote areas of the world.

Millions of viewers, several celebrities and sponsors joined in the effort. To date, Oprah's Angel Network and its support foundation have raised over $17 million: five million dollars from viewers responding to The Oprah Winfrey Show: ChristmasKindness South Africa; 5.1 million dollars from viewer donations; and an additional seven million dollars from celebrity contributions and sponsors such as Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com and Paul Newman of Newman's Own. Oprah personally covers the administrative costs of the organization so that 100% of all funds raised go to charity.
About the Use Your Life Award

Oprah's Angel Network established the "Use Your Life Award" in April 2000, and since then has awarded it to individuals who through their charitable organizations are making a difference in the lives of others. Oprah says, "I would encourage you to look inside yourself, to see what you have to offer…and use that to give back to the world."

Supported by donations from actor Paul Newman, founder of "Newman's Own"; Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com; and from donations by The Oprah Winfrey Show viewers, the "Use Your Life Award" helps recipients to expand their programs and to continue helping those in need.

To date, 54 "Use Your Life Awards" have been presented—totaling six million dollars! Wintley Phipps of the US Dream Academy has received this award. Since receiving the Use Your Life Award, a second US Dream Academy site has opened in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Dream Academy has redesigned their center to accommodate more students, streamlined their curriculum, and developed an in-house Web site that hosts academic instruction and educational games for students in grades 3 to 5. The U.S. Dream Academy has also recruited mentors from local colleges.

More information can be found on www.oprah.com

Jody Victor: We are very proud of all Wintley has accomplished over the years. We are excited that Oprah has honored him with this wonderful award. Congratulations to Wintley and the US Dream Academy.