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Oprah donates millions to new museum

Posted at 4:59 PM, Jun 12, 2013
and last updated 2013-06-12 17:33:40-04

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTVR) - A $12-million gift from Oprah Winfrey will go help construct of a new Smithsonian museum.

Officials said this is the largest donation the National Museum of African-American History and Culture has received to date.

As a result, a 350-seat theater in the museum will be named in Winfrey's honor.

"By investing in this museum, i want to help ensure that we both honor and preserve our culture and history, so that the stories of who we are will live on for generations to come," Winfrey said.

Winfrey, who is on the museum's advisory council, had previously donated $1 million to the project in 2007. It is currently under construction on a site adjacent to the Washington Monument in D.C., and is expected to open in late 2015.