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1000
June 2009 
The Gift of Giving Back & Free Hugs on Oprah
Posted on Oct 30th, 2006
by 
Joy Bringer
Joy Bringer
So what would you if you had $1000 to give away today? How would you spend them?
Who would you give them to outside of your family?
That is the gift and the challenge Oprah offered today to her audience and through them to all viewers and all of us alike. Thus she raised the gift of giving back to a whole another level, consciously and memorably.
Besides, the Hugathon started by Juan Mann in Australia and spreading like a positive wildfire through the youtube movie and all over the internet about which I blogged some time ago is also entering a new stage by being embraced and hugged by Oprah herself.
In brief what the Hugathon is that one man down under has started a worldwide movement—by simply offering free hugs!
"Juan Mann's free hug campaign started 2 years ago when Juan went back to his hometown in Australia to find that his friends and family had moved away. "I was the only person I knew in my own hometown," he says. "So I wanted to get out there and do something that spread a little bit of cheer and cheered me up, and this was the first thing that really came to mind."
The first time he stood in public with his "Free Hugs" sign, Juan says it took an agonizing 15 minutes to receive his first hug. "This one lady came up and gave me a hug and it was really, really worth it," Juan says. From that first hug a campaign was born! Thanks to a video on the website YouTube, Juan's movement is spreading worldwide—he is even organizing a global hug day! So do people think he's crazy? "All the time," Juan says. "People tend to be a bit wary of strange men in velvet coats walking around with giant signs."
Back to Oprah's Giving back campaign. Over the years, Oprah has given away cars, homes and much more, but nothing compares to her latest giveaway. "I can honestly say that every gift I've ever given has brought at least as much happiness to me as it has to the person I've given it to," Oprah says. "That's the feeling I want to pass on to you."
The 300 members of Oprah's audience were given $1,000 and a Sony DVD Handycam each …with the catch to donate their money to a charitable cause. "You're going to open your hearts, you're going to be really creative, and you're going to spend it all at once on one stranger or spend a dollar on every person," she says. "Imagine the love and kindness you can spread with $1,000."
Anyway, let the hugs and smiles continue with full force and joy. Here, get some & share! :)
Who would you give them to outside of your family?
That is the gift and the challenge Oprah offered today to her audience and through them to all viewers and all of us alike. Thus she raised the gift of giving back to a whole another level, consciously and memorably.
Besides, the Hugathon started by Juan Mann in Australia and spreading like a positive wildfire through the youtube movie and all over the internet about which I blogged some time ago is also entering a new stage by being embraced and hugged by Oprah herself.
In brief what the Hugathon is that one man down under has started a worldwide movement—by simply offering free hugs!
"Juan Mann's free hug campaign started 2 years ago when Juan went back to his hometown in Australia to find that his friends and family had moved away. "I was the only person I knew in my own hometown," he says. "So I wanted to get out there and do something that spread a little bit of cheer and cheered me up, and this was the first thing that really came to mind."
The first time he stood in public with his "Free Hugs" sign, Juan says it took an agonizing 15 minutes to receive his first hug. "This one lady came up and gave me a hug and it was really, really worth it," Juan says. From that first hug a campaign was born! Thanks to a video on the website YouTube, Juan's movement is spreading worldwide—he is even organizing a global hug day! So do people think he's crazy? "All the time," Juan says. "People tend to be a bit wary of strange men in velvet coats walking around with giant signs."
Back to Oprah's Giving back campaign. Over the years, Oprah has given away cars, homes and much more, but nothing compares to her latest giveaway. "I can honestly say that every gift I've ever given has brought at least as much happiness to me as it has to the person I've given it to," Oprah says. "That's the feeling I want to pass on to you."
The 300 members of Oprah's audience were given $1,000 and a Sony DVD Handycam each …with the catch to donate their money to a charitable cause. "You're going to open your hearts, you're going to be really creative, and you're going to spend it all at once on one stranger or spend a dollar on every person," she says. "Imagine the love and kindness you can spread with $1,000."
Anyway, let the hugs and smiles continue with full force and joy. Here, get some & share! :)
Access: Public
Cool thing to do..The Hugathon, first time I hear of it :) A global hug day, I am in….Let's hug more….
I'm bummed that I missed seeing Juan on Oprah. It's amazing how hugs can bring about such positive change. Thanks for sharing this information :-)
Peace, happiness, and good karma,
Donna
hugs and money giveaways are great! i just hope that that isn't the only $1,000 these people give! I budget a whole lot more than that every year to give… and would love to be able to give much, much more.
Love,
Nicole
Sol, I am giving you the longest virtual hug you ever got!
Donna, you can still catch more details on Oprah's web site and my warm hug for you too!
Nicole, that is awesome, budgetting our giving - something not only to aspire to, but actually do - I salute you and admire it and you inspire me with this and so much more.
Hugs from my heart for you loving souls,
D a r i n a
I caught the end of the show when Oprah was telling the audience about the giveaway, and some of them were in tears at the thought of having this opportunity. I can't wait to see the videos they turn in!
Keep up the Hugs!