Niles couple's 'Big Give' may air on Oprah

by Sarah Rice (srice@wsbt.com)

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A shot from the home video Chad and Tammy Gardner sent to Oprah (Chad & Tammy Gardner)

A shot from the home video Chad and Tammy Gardner sent to Oprah (Chad & Tammy Gardner)

By WSBT News1

NILES — A husband and wife from Niles went to see Oprah and were inspired by her new project called "Oprah's Big Give."

It encourages contestants to change someone's life in just five days. This couple decided to raise money for a Niles family in need.

After Chad and Tammy Gardner left the Oprah show, they knew what family they wanted to help. And they also knew they wanted to get more people involved. But they never expected it would include the whole community.

The Gardners started small. Chad got his students at Cedar Lane Alternative High School to help raise money. Before long, several other Niles schools joined forces.

They organized their own events to collect money. By the end of the week everyone had raised $70,000.

The donations went to Tammy Beers and her three children. Tammy's husband suddenly died last year and her daughter Taylor suffers from a rare skin disease. The money has helped cover medical bills, repairs to their home, and a full college scholarship for one of her sons.

The Gardners sent a video of their Big Give to the Oprah show. Since then, the show's producers have been in contact with them. And a clip of their video may air on Monday’s show.

"We're really excited about it. In retrospect, when we look at it, it wasn't about being on Oprah; it was about helping a family. But this is just kind of the icing on the cake. You know, letting everyone know what a small community can do," said Chad Gardner.

"They've had two of my kids, Mr. Gardner has, and they know what I've been through and he just felt that we deserved it. And I just kept trying to tell him that there are people out that deserve more than what I do,” said Tammy Beers.

Because their big give was such a success, Chad and Tammy Gardner plan on doing something similar every year.

Wednesday, Apr 23 at 9:28 PM Tammy wrote ...

Ralph, the funds raised in Niles went to a family in Niles that was in need! That was the concept of the fund raiser (to help a family in our community!)

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Monday, Apr 21 at 11:45 PM Julie wrote ...

I great up in Niles, MI and now live in Boston, MA. It was so great to see my hometown featured on Oprah, doing such a wonderful thing. Congratulations Niles!!!

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Monday, Apr 21 at 5:24 PM Joanie wrote ...

Niles is not a poor community. I don't know where you got that idea from. But it is a good little town. Better then South Bend, IN

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Monday, Apr 21 at 5:05 PM Ralph wrote ...

Its amazing that this family was able to raise money from others in Niles, MI. Considering that Niles is one of the poorest communities around here. Maybe they should have used the money raised to help those in need in Niles. Very, very poor decision on their part.

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Monday, Apr 21 at 9:07 AM Becky wrote ...

These are the kinds of stories that we need to have one the news more and more instead of another meth lab being found somewhere....it would make us all feel alot better and would maybe provide some inspiration to kids out there to understand what it means to give back and not to always take away from someone. We all need to change our habits and beging to think more of others as we all are going thru tough times and we all have a tendency to forget that.

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Monday, Apr 21 at 8:34 AM Peggy wrote ...

This is such a wonderful, heart warming story. It was a full community involved event. We are a small City with a BIG Heart...I can hardly wait until next year!!!! Let's do it again!!!

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Monday, Apr 21 at 8:11 AM Mz. V wrote ...

I agree we have so much bad news on here. I like this story and I hope that other's can have the same giving spirit, some times it only takes one person to have and idea and everyone else falls right in. This was a good job well done

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Monday, Apr 21 at 4:04 AM Lisa wrote ...

Now I hope Oprah does the right thing! Great job people! What a nice thing to do!

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Sunday, Apr 20 at 10:59 PM Kelly wrote ...

Way to go guys!!!!

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Sunday, Apr 20 at 8:41 PM c wrote ...

Now this is the kind of story I like to hear. Way 2 go!

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