Katie Couric to Give Back to Families Affected by Hurricane Sandy, 12/19

Related: KATIE, ABC

Katie Couric is making holiday wishes come true for some of the people who need it most this year. For the episode of the syndicated daytime talk show airing WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, the "Katie" studio audience will be filled with women from some of the communities that were hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy (check local listings or www.katiecouric.com). Audience members arrived under the impression they were attending a show about starting over in the New Year, only to have Couric surprise them with a holiday giveaway! Click here for a preview of the show.

Assisted by friends including Carson Kressley, Idina Menzel, Kathy Najimy, "Sesame Street" character Abby Cadabby and the Radio City Rockettes, Couric will unveil gifts ranging from the practical (spot cleaner! computer!) to the personal (pajamas! jewelry!) and, at the end of the show, will have an extra special surprise for audience members and their families.

With the show's emphasis on giving back, Couric will also share the story of a Boys & Girls Club in Hoboken, New Jersey that was almost destroyed by the storm. Four feet of water and gasoline threated to close the center, an important afterschool refuge for hundreds of kids, so Couric enlisted the help of Lowe's and HGTV/DIY Network hosts Genevieve Gorder and Steve Fanuka to bring the Club back to life. Viewers will see the amazing transformation that the team worked around the clock to bring to these lucky boys and girls, some of whom will stop by the "Katie" studio during the show.

Katie Couric is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author and popular TV personality. In addition to hosting the nationally syndicated program "Katie," Couric is also a member of the ABC News team. "Katie" is executive-produced by Katie Couric and Jeff Zucker and is distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television.