This article originally appeared Feb. 1, 2009 in The Star-Ledger
Oprah Winfrey, whose charitable work has extended around the world, has handed out more than $1.5 million to five nonprofit schools and organizations based in Newark as part of a nationwide gift-giving campaign that surprised many recipients.
A spokeswoman for Winfrey said the contributions were among more than a dozen grants to education- and community-focused organizations that were given through the entertainer's foundation at the end of the year.
The total amount of the grants was not released by Winfrey's spokeswoman but at least three of the recipients received $500,000 grants.
Grant recipients credited Booker for spotlighting the city. Booker is friendly with Gayle King, Oprah's best friend, a foundation director and an editor at O, The Oprah Magazine.
Rev. Edwin D. Leahy, the headmaster of St. Benedict's, said Booker has been "working for ages to have people interested in Newark and one of the people he has been talking to is Oprah."
The school, which serves 540 kids from seventh to 12th grade, received $500,000.
"It was a surprise. It was a big surprise," said Leahy.
Asked what the school will use it on, he responded, "Kids. Just like she asked us to. Lots of kids."
He called the grant "an enormous help at any time, but especially at this time," with the school's endowment funds getting hammered and the families it serves hit hard by the economy.
Stephen Adubato Sr., the guiding force at the North Ward Center, which also received $500,000, said Booker was the key, adding the funding could not come at a better time.
"You know how tight it is to get money these days? It's unbelievable," he said.
In a statement, Booker said he was grateful to the Oprah Winfrey Foundation.
"Oprah Winfrey is a powerful agent of change in our nation and she is a phenomenal friend to Newark. Her gifts will directly empower hundreds and hundreds of Newark families and help source our city's success," said the mayor. "We rejoice in Oprah's generosity and celebrate her life commitment to serving others."
Adubato said the money will be used to provide scholarships to graduates of the center's charter school, the Robert Treat Academy, so they can attend private high schools and colleges. He also said he would hire an outreach worker to work with graduates, and pay for their travel expenses when they go on visits to prospective schools.
"Urban kids, when they go to these very exclusive schools, it's very difficult, even if they have the academic ability," Adubato said.
Integrity House, which has raised $5 million from private funding for its women's transitional housing project, also received $500,000.
"Through this generous donation, Integrity House will complete renovations of a three-story Victorian home on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Newark, which will provide outpatient treatment and support services for 60 female drug addicts and their children," said David H. Kerr, founder and president of Integrity House, in a news release.
Following completion of building renovations, Kerr said, remaining funds will go toward Integrity's pilot program for women who are recovering addicts and hope to be entrepreneurs in Newark.
Through this program, former women addicts will receive support and guidance in re-entering the workplace, as well as mentoring from others who have done the same and found success and self- reliance.
With seed money from Winfrey, Integrity House will be working with Rutgers University and other groups to create an entrepreneurship program for all female addicts in recovery who have completed treatment and need work, said Kerr.
"We can't just sit back and wait for jobs to appear for these women, especially in this economy. Our women will create their own opportunities and employment," said Kerr.
Winfrey's latest giving has been low key. Foundation officials said she gave about $4 million to educational organizations in 2008.
Among them were Atlanta educator Ron Clark, who opened an in novative private school in one of the city's poorest neighborhoods in 2007. Clark, who has appeared twice on Winfrey's show, opened a letter earlier this month and found an unsolicited donation of $365,000.
In her letter to Clark, Winfrey called him a role model, applauding the "profound difference you're making with your passion for teaching."
Clark said the donation will likely go to scholarships for students. The 80-student middle school depends almost entirely on donations to operate.
U.S. Dream Academy, which serves high-risk students in 11 learning centers in 10 cities, received a $900,000 gift from Winfrey, who pledged to match up to $500,000 in additional individual contributions.
