Badass WomenMay 13, 2019

Five Things Oprah Winfrey Has Done for Women

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Oprah Winfrey is one of the most well-known women in the world, and her list of accomplishments could circle the globe twice over. Besides being the first African-American woman to own her own production company, being television’s highest-paid entertainer, being a producer of and actress in her own television shows, and being the host of one of history’s most popular talk shows (reaching over 15 million people daily),, she’s also a powerful advocate for women.

That being said, here are five things Oprah Winfrey has done for women.

As a victim of child abuse herself, Winfrey has worked hard in an effort to eradicate it. She was a powerful driving force in the drafting, lobbying, and passage of the National Child Protection Act, signed into law by President Clinton in 1994. The Act creates a national registry of child abusers to help employers and child-centered services screen dangerous people.
In 2002, Winfrey started The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. Winfrey says she was inspired by Nelson Mandela and his humility. She wanted to give the girls of South Africa a chance at an education. She said, “I wanted to create a ‘leadership academy’ because I feel strongly that women’s leadership can reshape the world.
Winfrey is also a notable philanthropist. In 1998, she formed the public charity, Oprah’s Angel Network, to help underprivileged women and children rise to their potential. In partnership with other organizations, the Angel Network has built over 55 schools in 12 countries, provided more than $1 million in school supplies to South African children, and helped rebuild 300 homes affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.The organization also empowers young people to be global citizens, provides books to underprivileged communities, and provides grants to organizations that provide women with life-changing assistance.
Winfrey really cares about education. Nearly $400 million of Winfrey’s money has been transformed into educational grants. She has personally funded almost 400 scholarships to Morehouse College, more than $40 million to her self-titled leadership school, and at least $10 million to A Better Chance. She’s also donated $1 million to charter schools and programs that focus on mentoring students.
Winfrey is a big supporter of arts and culture as well. She has personally donated $2.5 million to The National Council of Negro Women. The Council is a coalition that spans across 32 states, working to enlighten and inspire more than 3,000,000 women and men. They strive to lead, advocate for, and empower African women, their families, and their communities.