Carlana Stone is a media executive from Los Angeles, California, who has achieved notoriety by finding a variety of ways to overcome obstacles as a paraplegic. She was the first female paraplegic to pilot a plane solo, and was chosen to compete against nine other contestants on the ABC reality show Oprah's Big Give debuting in March 2008. Frequent Oprah Winfrey Show guest Nate Berkus hosts as contestants compete for a million dollar prize by helping others in unique ways.
Stone became paralyzed at 17. She was the only passenger injured in a car accident that resulted after a night of drinking with high school friends. After getting her degree in the Slavic languages from UC Berkeley, Stone went on to report for and produce local television news broadcasts and also write her memoirs in the book Never Give In, Never Give Up. In addition to her piloting pursuits, Stone scuba dives and sky dives, and runs the not-for-profit organization the Courage Community.
Carlana Fast Facts
- Hometown: Glendale, California
- Age at Big Give filming: 38
- Occupation: Media executive, author
- The Courage Community is a networking site for injured Iraq War veterans
- Voted off the show: March 16, 2008
Oprah's Big Give Fast Facts
- New episodes: Sundays 9/8c
- Network: ABC
- Judge: Oprah Winfrey
- Host: Nate Berkus
- Production company: Harpo Studios
