Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com

Published - Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Flood victims to benefit from ‘Big Give’

By Amber Dulek / Winona Daily News

Last August’s flood victims in Minnesota and Wisconsin will soon get a boost from daytime TV’s queen of giving Oprah Winfrey.

La Crescent, Minn.-based news station WXOW-19 recently received $10,000 from ABC and Oprah’s “Big Give” show, a reality series where challengers spend millions on local charities to be crowned “The Biggest Giver,” after WXOW submitted a proposal on how the show could help the region.

In the spirit of giving, U.S. Bank and Dahl Automotive of La Crosse, Wis., matched funds to make $20,000 available to flood victims within the WXOW viewing area, which includes Fillmore, Winona and Houston counties in Minnesota.

“If there’s any little bit we can help out with that’s what we’re trying to do,” said Laramie McClurg, WXOW promotions director. “(The August flood) was such a big deal, and it affected so many people.”

August’s deadly deluge damaged hundreds of homes and businesses in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, killing seven and leaving behind washed out bridges, mud, fear and broken communities.

Huge rainfall totals over several counties made the disaster one of the most significant rainfall events in Minnesota’s history. Millions in federal and state aid has been allocated, but recovery has been slow coming.

WXOW plans to regularly feature some of the recipients, starting with the first two on its Thursday evening broadcast, McClurg said. Tapes of the newscasts will be sent to the Oprah Winfrey Show, where Oprah may share a few flood victims’ stories, he said.

As of last Friday, WXOW had 52 submissions. Great Rivers United Way of La Crosse and the United Way of Olmsted County will select the beneficiaries — hopefully five to 10 families, maybe more, McClurg said.

“We’re not going to be give to every family because there’s not that much funds,” McClurg said. “But we

want to help out multiple families.”

Flood survivors can visit www.wxow.com/contests/index.php to apply. Local businesses and residents may help out with this project by contacting their local United Way.

Oprah’s “Big Give” eight-week program kicked off March 2. Will Oprah or “Big Give” contestants make an appearance here?

“Well, you never know,” McClurg said.

contact reporter Amber Dulek at amber.dulek@lee.net or (507) 453-3513.