recognition through the Oprah Winfrey Show.

The local charity earlier this year entered the "Come to My Home'' contest run by the most popular daytime television talk show in the US.

Viewers were invited, in March, to make a video showing Oprah why she should visit their home or neighbourhood.

And Project 100 treasurer Betty Mroz, who is a fan of the show, said she and other members of the charity decided to take Oprah up on the offer.

"I thought that would be kind of neat,'' Mrs. Mroz said. "We're 100 women who look after the needs of the mentally handicapped and Bermuda also has a lot to offer.'' The Project 100 committee -- with the help of videographer Dennis Sherlock, Cabinet Secretary Leo Mills, committee member Puisne Judge Norma Wade, and college student Koshea Scott -- quickly put together a video and sent it off days before the March 23 deadline.

The video included an introduction by Miss Scott who is majoring in communications at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, a commentary piece on the Island by Mr. Mills and scenic shots from the Tourism Department of horse-drawn carriage rides, children playing on the beach, golf, tennis and walking.

Oprah has promised to visit the home of the contest winner.

And while Mrs. Mroz said Project 100 would do whatever it could to accommodate the top talk show host if it won, she said the charity would be happy just to receive an honourable mention on the show.

But yesterday Ms Mroz said she was still awaiting word on the outcome of the contest.

"I haven't heard a word. I keep checking the post, expecting some sort of acknowledgement.

"We sent it out express so we know it got there. But we haven't heard anything.'' The contest winner was expected to be named in April.

But when contacted yesterday, a spokeswoman at Harpo Studio in Chicago -- home of the Oprah Winfrey Show -- said the show was in "hiatus''.

"Before we stopped in June no decision had been made on that,'' she said.

"The show will resume taping in August. So we will not know anything about the contest results until after that.'' The number of entries for the contest was also unknown, she added.