Gayle King, Oprah and Maria Shriver

Photo: George Burns/Harpo Studios

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Gayle King and Maria Shriver
Gayle King and Maria Shriver have been two of Oprah's best girlfriends ever since their days at a Baltimore TV station.

"You have been my very best friend for 35 years. I've watched you make some big dreams come true," Gayle says. "But I've never seen you get more excited [than] when you give the ultimate gift of education. Because Oprah always says you can truly set someone free."

"Oprah, for more than 30 years, you have bestowed the most amazing friendship on me. You've given me love, support, wisdom and, most of all, the truth," Maria says. "You've taught young women and men to focus on learning everything they can so that they can give the world everything that they are."

Watch how Oprah's commitment to education has changed lives