Woman grows Oprah's gift 30-fold

By Truong Phuoc Khánh
San Jose Mercury News

Using a little-known venture-capital tool she called the ``loaves and fishes thing,'' Michelle Hall took the $1,000 she received from Oprah Winfrey -- under strict orders to give it all away -- and grew the charity pot to more than $30,000 in just one week.

As a result, three Bay Area non-profit groups are seeing a bountiful autumn harvest thanks to fundraising efforts by Hall and other members of her church, the Almaden First Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

``It's taken a life of its own, that's for sure,'' Hall said Tuesday. ``It has just grown to unbelievable proportions.''

It started with a kindness challenge from Winfrey, who handed out $1,000 debit cards to more than 300 audience members and told them they had one week spend it on a charitable cause. Hall, 46, of San Jose, was in the audience for the show, which aired Oct. 30.

Back home, Hall called her friends, who called their friends, who then contacted businesses and retailers, who -- upon hearing that ``Ms. Oprah'' was at the root of this gift-giving campaign -- enthusiastically signed up to make matching contributions through gift cards and merchandise.

Ikea, Orchard Supply Hardware, Beverly's Fabrics and Crafts, Mancini's Sleepworld, Westfield Valley Fair and others all said ``yes'' when contacted by Hall's troops last week.

With her $1,000, Hall had chosen to help out two San Jose-based non-profits: Unity Care Group, which works with at-risk youth, and San Jose Family Shelter, which provides temporary shelter for homeless families.

Then, this weekend, Hall attended a fundraiser in San Francisco to benefit the Little Sisters of the Poor. When radio host Don Bleu advertised what Hall was doing, those attending the event dug into their pockets and promised Hall an additional $14,000, which is going straight to St. Anne's Home for the elderly, run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

``Oprah started this,'' said Monalisa DiAngelo of Unity Care. ``But if all 300 who got the $1,000 made $30,000, that's $9 million for charities across the nation.''

The avalanche of community good will has netted Unity Care 24 new beds for the 12 apartment units it's opening up for homeless youths who have been emancipated from the foster care system. The apartments now have pots and pans, glasses and silverware, and sheets on every bed. Some even have television sets and entertainment centers.

San Jose Family Shelter got its child care room refurbished over the weekend, with new toys, new tables and bedding for the cribs.

Per Winfrey's instructions, Hall on Monday mailed in her recording of her effort to give away money. Winfrey will be airing a select number of tapes on a future show.

Stay tuned.