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Oprah Winfrey gives away cars to mark her new season
MUMBAI: Talk about content syndication. What happened on Monday (13 September) on The Oprah Winfrey Show took that to a completely different level. Agency reports state that television host Winfrey, in keeping with her theme of the show’s wildest dream season (19th season) surprised her ecstatic audience by gifting them brand new Pontiac G6 sports sedans.
All the 276 members of the studio audience were taken by surprise when Winfrey opened the show by calling 11 members of the audience to the stage and gifting them a new car. “No dream is too wild, no surprise too impossible to pull off,” Winfrey said during the telecast.
In keeping with the statement Winfrey then handed out gift boxes to the rest of the audience stating that one of the boxes contained the key to the 12th Pontiac. The boxes were opened at the count of three, where in the audience went berserk finding every single one of them have been gifted a car.
General Motors was responsible for the $7 million giveaway, which provided the free Pontiac G6 sports sedans, a new line of cars, as part of a promotional deal with Winfrey’s Chicago-based show said agency reports.
A handout introduced the “Wildest Dreams Come True” theme for the 19th season of The Oprah Winfrey Show, which has been rated as the top daytime talk programs in US syndication since its debut in 1986.
Winfrey led the ecstatic crowd outside the studio to a parking lot filled with G6s topped with big red bows. Everyone was asked to contact a Pontiac representative to personally customise the actual cars they will receive, allowing them to choose the colour and features that come with a fully loaded model.
Agency reports claim that most members of the audience had been hand picked from letters sent in advance by viewers on behalf of themselves, friends or family who were in need of a new car. But the audience members were kept in the dark about the nature of the show until it was taped.
Winfrey also was reported to have given away a four-year college scholarship, $10,000 wardrobe and make-over to a young woman who had spent her teen years in foster care and homeless shelters. That apart, a family with eight foster children were gifted a houseful of furniture and electronics as well as a cheque of $130,000 to cover their mortgage and home repairs.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
