Toles to appear on ‘Oprah’
Was nominated as an ‘inspiration’
November 18, 2010 - By MARLY KOSINSKI Tribune Chronicle

WARREN - Deryck Toles has inspired hundreds of students over the past four years through his
Inspiring Minds organization.

On Tuesday, it was his turn to be inspired as the former football standout was interviewed by Oprah
Winfrey for a segment to air Monday as part of a show on inspiring people. Toles was nominated for
the show by Kim Winfrey, who is not related to the talk show queen.

Winfrey said she sent an e-mail to the Oprah show about six weeks ago in response to a call for
nominations of inspiring people. Two weeks ago, she received an invitation to appear on the show
with Toles.

The pair left for Chicago Tuesday morning and spent more than six hours at Oprah's studio. They
returned to Warren Wednesday afternoon.

Toles and Winfrey said they are not allowed to discuss the show until after the segment airs, but both
of them described the experience as "thrilling."

Oprah is known for her philanthropy, and guests on the show usually walk away with gifts. Toles said
he was not allowed to discuss what happened but said "it was a really great day."

He said there were people at the studio from all over the country, as well as one woman from
Jamaica. Toles said Oprah told him she received thousands of letters from all over the world.

"It was a blessing we were chosen," Toles said.

He said he did not go on the show expecting anything and was honored to meet Oprah and the other
people at the taping session. He said he also was honored that Winfrey thought enough of him to
write the letter.

In her letter, Winfrey says Toles founded Inspiring Minds hoping to expose students to things they
may not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience.

"From trips to college tours, even community service, his kids have an opportunity of a lifetime. They
can see for themselves what the world has to offer them," she wrote.

Winfrey said what people don't see is all the time and energy it takes for Toles to run all these
programs.

"Meeting after meeting, from sun up to sundown, it's like having a full-time job. Not only is he an
inspiration to the kids, but he's an inspiration to me being a single mom. And I know there is
somebody out there who cares if my kids continue their education. And who wants them to be
successful, well rounded young adults. I am inspired to be a better person because of what he does,"
Winfrey wrote.

Her daughter, Keyauna Elzy, graduated from Warren G. Harding High School in June and is now
attending the University of Toledo majoring in criminal justice. She said Keyauna was only in Inspiring
Minds for one year, but she talked about Toles all the time.

"Her dad is not involved in her life, so he was kind of like a father figure for her. She still seeks his
advice and I am grateful for his involvement because I did not attend college so there are a lot of
things I cannot help her with that he can," Winfrey said.

Her other daughter, Aris Bender, is a freshman at Harding and this is her first year in Inspiring Minds.

Inspiring Minds was founded by Toles in April 2006 as a way to promote the development of youth
and adolescent dreams through exposure to new experiences. It also aims to motivate and educate
students to overcome obstacles.

"I learned so much from Oprah. She would talk to the audience in between taping segments and it
was awe-inspiring to be around someone who does what I do on a much larger scale," Toles said.

Toles, 29, graduated from Harding in 1999 and went on to play football for Penn State University. He
briefly played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns, but was permanently
sidelined while on the Indianapolis Colts roster because of complications from a sports hernia.

mkosinski@tribtoday.com