Oprah Donates More Than $1M for Construction of Obama Presidential Center

Oprah Winfrey has donated more than $1 million for construction of the Obama Presidential Center, the Chicago Tribune is reporting.

The Chicago City Council approved plans for the Barack Obama center two months ago. It is expected to cost more than $500 million to build, the newspaper said. All the construction money will come from private donations.

The announcement of Winfrey’s donation came as the Obama Foundation updated its list of donors on Monday with those who contributed to the center between April and June. This is Winfrey’s first gift to the foundation, according to the newspaper. The exact amount of her donation was not revealed.

It follows the opening of an exhibit honoring Winfrey at the new National Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C. Winfrey had donated more than $20 million to the museum, according to the newspaper.

The famed television talk show has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate. But she has repeatedly rejected the idea.

In an interview with British Vogue magazine, she cited the non-truths, nastiness and "backhanded backroom stuff" surrounding any presidential run.

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