Good works pay off for Utahns, thanks to Oprah

26/11/2010 00:38

Post by (ugg boots günstig) Oct 2010

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FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2009 file photo originally provided by Harpo Productions Inc., talk-show host Oprah Winfrey announces during a live broadcast of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" in Chicago that her daytime television show, the foundation of a multibillion-dollar media empire with legions of fans, will end its run in 2011 after 25 seasons on the air. On Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, the 25th and final season of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" starts airing. (AP Photo/Harpo Productions, Inc., George Burns, File) MANDATORY CREDIT, NO SALES
Published on Nov 22, 2010 06:11PM 1 Comments

A dispatch from the Tribune's Scott D. Pierce:

Utahns Kate Geagan and Eileen Hopper were in the audience as Oprah Winfrey taped her final “Ultimate Favorite Things” episode, and came home with tens of thousands of dollars in free stuff.

Like diamonds. And a brand-new car.

"It was amazing. It was one of the most surreal hours of my life," Geagan said. "Not only because of the things Oprah gave us, but the spirit in which she gave them."

(Taped on Wednesday, Nov. 17, the episode airs today at 4 p.m. on KUTV-Ch. 2.)

In the annual TV event, Winfrey invites deserving people to sit in her audience, then showers them with gifts.

Back in May, Geagan e-mailed Winfrey after being inspired by one of her shows, which told of the plight of the lost boys of Sudan.

"From that show, I was inspired to get involved with the lost boys," said Geagan. She and her sister, Eileen Hopper, founded chierfoundation.org, which has raised more than $214,000 and sent more than 60 of those boys to college.

That, in turn, led to the invitation to "The Oprah Winfrey Show." And the shower of gifts.

First up was an Apple iPad, which Winfrey said is her "No. 1 favorite thing ever."

Audience members might disagree, if only because of those diamonds and that car.

Each got a Sophie Jewelry Box from Pottery Barn, which contained a pair of Jessica Leigh earrings by Dana Rebecca Designs. Each pair has more than 100 diamonds.

That was before Winfrey told the audience “The Beetles are coming!” and gave them each keys to a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle.

"It was unreal. I mean, when she drove the car out on stage, it was, like, 'That never happens to me! I've never won anything!'" Geagan said.

They won't actually get the cars until the fall. "I have a nice key that is symbolic, but that's it right now," Geigan said with a laugh.

Those were the two biggies, but there was a lot more. Food-related items like a custom tin of popcorn from Garrett's in Chicago; an Herb-Savor by Prepara (which sent Oprah into an “herb tizzy”); Centerville Chicken Pies; an assortment of Talbott Teas (with a matching tea set); mini croissants from Williams-Sonoma; and a custom set of Le Creuset cast iron pots and pans and stainless steel cookware.

And there were several clothing items, including a cashmere sweater and matching leggings from Magaschoni; Ugg boots and a Coach bag; a $500 gift certificate to Nordstrom's lingerie department; and a pair of Miraclebody Jeans by Miraclesuit that Winfrey said "have a secret panel that holds in your tummy and, well, look at what they do for your butt!”

And Winfrey's favorite moisturizer, Hope in a Jar by Philosophy.

Audience members also got CDs from Johnny Mathis and Josh Groban, who both performed.

Beyond that, Geagan and Hopper got more inspiration.

"Oprah said to us, 'Everyone has a center of influence. I have happen to have a larger center of influence. But everyone who's here, you're here because you've used your center of influence in a positive way,'" Geagan said. “And to me and to my sister, that was actually one of the best gifts that she gave us."

And she's hoping the exposure will help "what we are trying to do to help the lost boys of Sudan. I hadn't even realized it might do that until today."

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