Hill resident appears on Ellen DeGeneres Show

  • Published
  • By Mary Lou Gorny
  • Hilltop Times Editor
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  One of Team Hill's own residents received an emotional surprise recently when she attended a taping of the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Vania Ferreira, the spouse of 1st Lt. Rob Ferreira, 729th Air Control Squadron, was in the studio audience May 20 when DeGeneres surprisingly read an e-mail Vania had previously sent to the show requesting a shipment of Ellen underwear for her deployed husband and his unit, because they didn't have adequate access to laundry facilities. The show, which broadcast May 21, featured DeGeneres reading Vania's e-mail and then inviting her on stage.

Degeneres chatted with her about the challenges of having a deployed spouse. Then Vania's husband, Rob, made a surprise visit to the show live from his deployed location via Skype and their children joined on stage for the Skype conversation.
 
During the show, DeGeneres presented Vania with prizes awarded to the studio audience on a previous Mother's Day broadcast, as well as a check for $20,000 from Swiss Wellness to help with her and Rob's student loans.

Vania, now back home representing her family, donated a small portion of the funds on June 6 to assist with the Hill AFB Chapel's AEF (Air Expeditionary Forces) retreats.

She presented a check in the amount of $2,200 at the same time members of the Hill Officers' Spouses Club donated checks for $2,600 and $100.

"My husband and I were able to go on a retreat just before he left (for his deployment) and it was so touching and impactful for our family. We learned some communication tools and had some family time together. The fact that the retreat was so inexpensive made it so wonderful for us, because it was the only time we could get a vacation that our family could afford," Vania said.

The AEF retreat had such an impact on Vania and Rob that they made the decision to give back.

The segment of the Ellen show featuring the Ferreira's is available on YouTube here.