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Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 01
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Spanx founder stuns Oprah with $1M donation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It takes a lot to shock Oprah Winfrey and reduce her to tears on the set of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
Exactly how much?
A million dollars.
That’s the amount of a personal check Spanx founder Sara Blakely will hand the talk show queen today when she surprises her with the donation on the “How’d They Do That?” edition of “Oprah” broadcast on WSB-TV at 4 p.m. The Atlanta entrepreneur had been asked to participate as a guest on the show that was taped in December.
When Blakely decided to make the sizable donation to Winfrey’s Oprah’s Leadership Academy in South Africa, she didn’t tell her mother, her grandmother or even her accountant.
“I was afraid that someone might try to talk me out of it!” Blakely joked Thursday to Buzz. Blakely only informed a single “Oprah” producer who, in turn, prompted the talk show queen to end a segment by asking Blakely about “a new project you’re working on.” Expecting Blakely to plug a new line of products, Winfrey “just froze, put her hand on her chest and her eyes filled with tears” when the footless pantyhose pioneer made the check presentation.
For Blakely, the check was a unique way “to pay it forward.”
As it turns out, in the late 1990s when Blakely was selling copiers and fax machines door-to-door and trying to interest folks in her control-top footless pantyhose idea on nights and weekends, Winfrey gave her a much needed sign to continue her business plan.
“I was attending a sales seminar in Detroit and I was in my hotel room when I turned on ‘Oprah,’ ” Blakely recalls. “Suddenly, there she was lifting her pant leg and telling her audience how she had cut the feet out of her control pantyhose so she could wear these pants she had on.”
Years later after Spanx took off, thanks in part to a on-air plug by Winfrey in 2000, Blakely was touring South Africa as she was establishing her Sara Blakely Foundation. When she asked about a large plot of land under construction, she was told the project would become part of Winfrey’s school there.
“It was another full-circle moment for me that, here I was, halfway around the world and here is this work that Oprah was doing,” says Blakely.
The donation prompted Winfrey to invite Blakely into her office after the show.
As a producer led Blakely past two security guards and a roped-off area, she was told, “Oprah never does this.”
In her office, a grateful Winfrey met with Blakely in her pajamas. She then showed the Spanx founder 15 minutes of a documentary that she was working on about the Leadership Academy.
Blakely plans to celebrate the experience this afternoon with a viewing party at the Bucket Shop in Buckhead with her staff.
Asked if she was going to let somebody else pick up the tab for a change, Blakely laughed and replied: “I’m going to work on that!”
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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‘Home Plate’ chef: ATL is home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chef Marvin Woods called Buzz Central Wednesday to fill us in on his plans. The bad news: It likely won’t include him behind the stove at Spice in Midtown. The good news: The Turner South “Home Plate” chef is staying in Atlanta. “I’ve been doing this 23 years, and this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten into a thing that didn’t go the way it was supposed to go,” Woods reasoned. “My family and I didn’t just move to Atlanta for Spice. Everyone here has been incredibly welcoming to us.”
Woods did confirm that he had a conversation with rapper-actor Ludacris a few weeks ago, as the music mogul considered buying the space owned by restaurateur Bruce Patterson. Ludacris “said he liked what I was doing,” Woods said. The timing didn’t work out, however.
Woods is busying himself with a planned summer launch of Mad Flavor, a line of spices and sauces based on his popular Low Country-Island-African-influenced approach to cooking. Woods says he’s also in talks with folks at Turner to continue the “Home Plate” franchise in some format, possibly as a podcast.
Music insiders party
The performing rights organization SESAC threw itself a party Tuesday night at Puritan Mill downtown to celebrate the opening of its new Atlanta chapter. SESAC is now poised to compete with its acronym-ed rivals, ASCAP and BMI, for some of Atlanta’s top songwriting talent. The party was a swanky affair — “business attire” was requested on the invitations. But inside the warehouse-style space, it looked more like music industry prom night. Local chapter head Cappriccieo Scates, who wore a black-on-black suit, took the stage and gave a little motivational speech to SESAC clients.
“I challenge you,” he said, “to challenge me.”
After that came a performance by R&B singer Sammie, who was backed on keyboard by Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Bryan-Michael Cox.
Luda goes to school
If only every day at high school could be like this …
Rap, R&B and jazz stars lead your class.
You raise your hand to ask questions like, “Can I get a hug?”
That was the scene Wednesday during Grammy Career Day at Clark Atlanta University, where about 300 metro Atlanta students from 10 area high schools sat in on a dream lesson.
The session puts students in direct contact with industry pros. The day began with a panel featuring Ludacris, R&B singer-songwriter Lyfe Jennings, jazz guitarist Earl Klugh, record label exec Dee Dee Murray and vocal coach Jan Smith. This was followed by a closing concert by R&B newcomer Shareefa, performing her single, “I Need a Boss.”
“The questions these kids asked are the same kinds of things I wanted to know at their age, and there was no one around like that panel to answer them for me,” Ludacris remarked afterward. “That’s why I do things like this — to make it better for the next hungry young kid. The talent out there is just waiting to be bigger than me. And all they need is this knowledge.”
Or in 16-year-old Brecola Stokley’s case, a hug from Luda, one of her favorite artists.
Coming attractions
“Dale,” a documentary on the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. (left), will wheel into metro Atlanta theaters March 6-8 and March 13-15.
Authorized by the NASCAR legend’s widow, Teresa Earnhardt, and narrated by Paul Newman, “Dale” includes archival race footage, never-before-seen home videos and interviews with friends, family and competitors.
Theaters showing the documentary will include: Mansell Crossing, Phipps Plaza, Parkway Point, Atlantic Station, Mall of Georgia, Hollywood 24, North DeKalb, Arbor Place, Medlock Crossing, Barrett Commons, Town Center, Discover Mills, Stonecrest, Southlake Pavilion, Snellville Oaks, Regal 22 (Austell), Tinseltown 17 (Fayetteville), Hollywood (Gainesville), Griffin Stadium (Griffin), Dawson 400 (Dawsonville) and Beachwood Cinema (Athens).
Tickets are available for $10 at www.dalethemovie.com and at participating box offices.
Celebrity birthdays
Actor-comedian Garrett Morris is 70. Singer Don Everly of the Everly Brothers is 70. Actor Sherman Hemsley is 69. Actor-writer-director Terry Jones (“Monty Python”) is 65. Actor-writer-producer Billy Mumy (“Lost in Space”) is 53. Singer Lisa Marie Presley is 39. Actor Michael C. Hall (“Dexter”) is 36. Rapper Big Boi of OutKast is 32.
Contributing: Nick Marino, Howard Pousner and news services
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
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