Oprah Winfrey is Biggest African-American philanthropist

Oprah Winfrey is the first African-American philanthropist to make the BusinessWeek Top 50 Philanthropist list. The list is BusinessWeek Magazine annual ranking of America's biggest philanthropist. The no. 1 givers Bill and Melinda Gates is the world's largest international donors, who made history this year by giving their estimated $3 billion Microsoft dividend to their foundation. It's one of the largest donations in history by a living donor. It is three times bigger than the amount that America's richest family, the descendants of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton, has given during their entire lifetimes, according to BusinessWeek. The Walton's have a estimated combined networth of $95.8 billion according to Forbes Magazine and have only given a combined $1 billion in their life time.

In an interview with BusinessWeeks Michelle Conlin, Oprah said, "The Oprah Winfrey Foundation has been committed to empowering women, children, and families by furthering education and welfare for low-opportunity communities around the world." She said her foundation will continue its Global focus. "Right now, the single biggest project my foundation is working on is building The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls South Africa, which will cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million and will educate close to 5,000 girls in a 10-year period. It's my vision that this academy will help to develop the future leaders of South Africa and be a source of pride for South Africans for generations to come."