Oprah surprises Joburg kids
2004-12-15 10:34
Johannesburg - US talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey personally handed over money to a South African children's home to fulfil her pledge to the parents of a dead American girl who had been saving her lunch money for charity, a daily said on Wednesday.
Winfrey handed over $280 (about R1 600) put away by 11-year-old Hallie Geier to a children's facility in Benoni near Johannesburg on Tuesday, The Star newspaper said.
Geier, who died in an accident in New York earlier this year, had been putting away her tiffin money, which she wanted to send to children affected by HIV/AIDS in southern Africa.
After her death, her parents set up a foundation in her name and handed over the money raised to Winfrey's Angel Network. Winfrey had then promised to donate the money to an appropriate cause, The Star said.
Winfrey handed over $10 000 (about R57 000) raised by the Love Hallie Foundation in addition to the cash the young girl had saved to Kids Haven, a shelter for 195 children, mostly living on the streets.
Moira Simpson, the director of the shelter, said both the children and staff were bowled over by the surprise visit.
"There was shock and surprise on their faces and then squeals of delight. It was so exciting ... she even joined in when the children were dancing ... she did a tour of the shelter and chose a girls' dormitory to spend the money on."
Simpson said the $280 saved by Geier would be used to buy medicines for HIV-positive children at the shelter.
Winfrey has been a regular visitor to South Africa and has attended the birthday celebrations of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, which also include charity events and a party for children.