Oprah Winfrey’s $12m gift still supports Smithsonian theatre 13 years later

A $12 million donation from Oprah Winfrey to the Smithsonian Institution continues to support public discussions about African American history and culture in the nation's capital. The Smithsonian Institution announced the donation in June 2013. The money supported fundraising for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Along with an earlier gift of $1 million made in 2007, Winfrey's total contribution reached $13 million. This made her the largest individual donor to the museum during its development. To recognize her support, the Smithsonian named the building's 350-seat performance space the Oprah Winfrey Theater. Located below ground, the theater hosts live performances, academic talks, film screenings and public debates in Washington, DC.A landmark contribution to building costsWinfrey joined the museum's advisory council in 2004. She worked with civic leaders, legal experts and cultural figures to help guide the institution's planning and development.