2005 Year in Review

Morrison woman was Katrina Volunteer and now an Oprah Winner

Jean Zinnen

Madonna presented Oprah with a watch similiar to this one.

Gift Bag

Jean, a nurse at the Whiteside County Health Department and subject of TheCity1.com Katrina series of articles never had a clue the gifts were coming and neither did any of the other 300 audience members on Saturday, November 12. "My sister Ann encouraged me to send the Oprah Winfrey show an email about my volunteering in Louisiana for the hurricane effort after she read Oprah was going to invite Katrina volunteers to the taping of a show," said Jean. And that is what she did and then promptly forgot about it. Until a few weeks ago when a producer from the show called her on a Sunday afternoon. "The lady explained they were going to invite several volunteers and would need verification from the Red Cross of my time in Louisiana," said Jean. Readers of TheCity1.com Katrina series will remember Jean went with her fellow worker Beth Fiorini and Jean insisted Beth come along to the show. The show producers allowed it and the taping occurred at Harpo Productions studio in downtown Chicago.

"We had to be in the studio by 7 AM," stated Jean. Although the audience was excited and expectant about being a select group, they never thought this would be the annual "Oprah's Favorite Things Show" that has become a giving tradition for Winfrey. "We watched as an audience of about five segments of different volunteers were shown and interviews took place," said Jean. There were commercial breaks between segments and Jean was able to see Oprah and all of the staff quite easily as the studio is only large enough for an audience of 300 and the camera crews. "We felt like we were on stage we were so close," said Jean.

After one of the commercial breaks, Oprah came out of an alcove and made the announcement "Welcome to all of the Katrina Hurricane volunteers to my favorite show, Oprah's Favorite Things!". Things got a little crazy then according to Jean and then all of the gifts started being announced. Several items of value were given as gift certificates such as a winter coat, Ipod, Blackberry and tennis shoes, a Sony notebook computer, boots and of course the now famous double faced watch that Madonna gave to Oprah 3 years ago which is studded with diamonds(see picture). Total value per recipient is approximately $6,000.00 and Oprah paid the taxes too.

Jean noted that at no time had she ever given a thought of personal gain from her volunteer efforts and she reminded this writer of the many volunteers that were not on the show deserving of credit. Jean was also mindful that the shelter she and Beth had worked in Baton Rouge, Lousiana had just closed down November 15 and transferred their final 12 people. She also remembered the good doctor from South Chicago, Dr. Charles Woodridge who arrived in Baton Rouge without Red Cross invitation and "he just pitched in, got things organized, was more than a doctor, he was a calming influence in a chaotic situation and we all adored him. I wanted Dr. Woodridge to attend with us to the show but the Red Cross could not verify his being at the shelter since he, like so many others were true volunteers who showed up and pitched in," said Jean.

Then as a second reward, Oprah asked the entire audience to stay until 4PM and they were treated to the taping of a second show starring actor Jamie Foxx who portrayed Ray Charles in the movie "Ray".

by Bob Vaughn, theCity1.com
November 25, 2005