ATLANTA, April 30, 2008 – Today, Channel 2 WSB-TV announces the total of funds raised by the local efforts has reached $140, 718. The last Oprah’s Big Give prime time special aired Sunday, April 20^th, on ABC and Channel 2, Atlanta’s ABC affiliate.

“We send our heartfelt thanks out to the people and local companies here in Georgia who responded to the call to give back and give big,” said Bill Hoffman, vice president and general manager for Channel 2 WSB-TV. “This campaign establishes a permanent endowment fund to inject new life into an already incredible program begun by Children’s Restoration Network,” Hoffman continued. “This fund will be there forever for the kids, endowing annual scholarships to help Georgia’s homeless youth meet their post secondary education’s financial needs.”

In the spirit of the inspiring reality series Oprah’s BIG GIVE, ABC handed over $10,000 to Channel 2 WSB-TV with the challenge: give back to the community in a big way. That $10,000 began to grow immediately when Channel 2 called on its Family 2 Family partners. Each partner quickly jumped in and pledged its support of the project.

WSB-TV thanks its Family 2 Family partners:

Kroger grocery stores conducted a “round up” program, March 30^th through April 6^th, at over 100 Kroger stores across Georgia, giving customers a quick way to make a difference.

Waffle House donated money from each waffle sale over a 2-day period. Then, Waffle House took another step beyond money. It has offered jobs to each senior identified by the Children’s Restoration Network to help them get a running start at life.

Northside Hospital and Scana Energy each donated money.

Airtran Airways encouraged customers on its website to donate to the campaign and provided other in-kind services.

The Atlanta Journal & Constitution (AJC) donated advertising space to promote a campaign by its award winning political cartoonist, Mike Luckovich. Luckovich created a special Big Give cartoon and donated 100 signed color prints to the first 100 donors on line.

The Atlanta Braves jumped in contributing from its foundation and individual players pitched in as well. Plus, volunteers of Children’s Restoration Network collected donations at a recent home game.

Osiason Education Foundation, UPS and Post Properties were joined by Georgians from all over who logged onto wsbtv.com to donate.

Through this project, homeless high school seniors will be granted a life-changing opportunity they may not have otherwise received. This funding adds renewed support for the Children’s Restoration Network of Atlanta’s New Hope Scholarship program. This scholarship program has been in existence since 2005, providing financial assistance to 19 deserving seniors who reside in group homes or homeless shelters throughout metro Atlanta.

And, it was not all about money. “Oprah’s Big Give to Georgia raised awareness for CRN’s tutorial program: Project One on One,” said Jovita Moore, Channel 2 Action News anchor and spokesperson for the project. “Nearly 150 Georgians signed up to mentor homeless children living in shelters or group homes in 19 Georgia counties,” she added. “I want to thank ABC and Oprah’s Big Give for this amazing opportunity for Channel 2 to give back to the Atlanta community in such a meaningful way.”

The public can continue to contribute online to help grow this fund. Click here!

Channel 2, WSB-TV, is a Cox Television Station and ABC Affiliate.

About Cox Television: Cox Television includes 15 television stations, 3 national television sales representation firms, a television production company, and a Washington D.C. news office. Cox Television is a subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc., based in Atlanta.

About Children’s Restoration Network: Since 1993, Children's Restoration Network (CRN) has provided services to the ever increasing number of homeless women and children in metro Atlanta.CRN began working with one Atlanta shelter that housed women and children, and each year thereafter has added to the number of children and mothers served. Today, CRN works with 128 shelters and group homes in 19 counties around metro Atlanta, which houses more than 2,000 children each night. For more information about Children’s Restoration Network, visit www.childrn.org.