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November 6, 2010
O'Reilly and Stossel Up the On-Air Ante on Proposition 19 Wager Benefiting the Doe Fund

Fox News anchors legends John Stossel and Bill O'Reilly seldom agree on anything, but when it came to deciding who should benefit from a wager between them, the unanimous answer was The Doe Fund: a favorite cause for both.

On the October 19, 2010 episode of The O'Reilly Factor, Stossel and O'Reilly each took opposing sides on whether California voters would pass Proposition 19 and legalize marijuana: Stossel in favor and O'Reilly against. Whoever got the short stick would present a $10,000 check to The Doe Fund, which helps formerly homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals - most of whom have significant substance abuse histories - rebuild their lives through paid transitional work and comprehensive support services.

The Doe Fund is best known for its Ready, Willing & Able program, whose "men in blue" can be seen every day cleaning 150 miles of New York City streets. This paid transitional work represents the first step they take toward self-sufficiency, and is coupled with safe, drug-free housing; comprehensive support services; drug testing and counseling; and occupational training and job placement.

On Thursday night's The O'Reilly Factor, John Stossel made good on the bet, writing a check to The Doe Fund for $10,000 - but not before offering to double the check if O'Reilly would match the bet. The result is a $40,000 donation to The Doe Fund, which will help provide more opportunities to the homeless and formerly incarcerated "men in blue." George T. McDonald, Founder & President of The Doe Fund, said, "Regardless of the outcome, the 'men in blue' came out the real winners, recognized by these television legends for breaking the cycles of homelessness, substance abuse, and incarceration to become role models in their communities and responsible fathers."

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