A local Fox station in Las Vegas has a news team called the “Surprise Squad,” that helps to capture moments when people are rewarded with a surprise for good deeds or kindness.
One story from 2016 went viral not only for the sweet act itself that inspired it but the rewards received by the good samaritan.
Homecoming
In the spring of 2016, 17-year-old Daniel Rivas was looking forward to his school’s homecoming dance. But his anticipation turned to sadness when his potential date turned him down. Most people can relate to that kind of disappointment.
It’s not clear exactly why Rivas was turned down, but it hit him extra hard since he has Down Syndrome and feared it was because of his disability.
That didn’t sit right with 10th-grader Kylie Fronius, so she decided to stage a proposal, of sorts. She asked him to go to homecoming, surprising him by walking into Shadow Ridge High School with a big sign that read: “Will you be my Homecoming date?”
Seeing people as they are
Fronius didn’t see it as a particularly big gesture, just something she wanted to do to be kind to a fellow student.
“I don’t think of kids that have disabilities as being different,” she said in an interview with Fox5 Las Vegas. “I think of them just being a normal person learning in a different way.”
That’s one wise teenager!
It not only brightened Daniel’s day to be going to the dance with a date, but it really touched his mother as well.
“It’s not about that Daniel has a disability,” she said. “It’s Kylie [who] didn’t see any disability. That is what your heart wants as a mom.”
The big surprise
After hearing about the sweet gesture, the host of Fox5’s Surprise Squad, Monica Jackson, planned a big to-do for the pair so they could attend homecoming in style.
First, she approached the couple to tell them they’d be riding in style that night. And as she did, a sparkling Rolls Royce pulled up to be their chariot for the evening! Everyone was stunned at the spectacular car that then ushered the friends off to a swanky bistro for a pre-dinner celebration.
Daniel’s mom Tonya was thrilled for her son, mentioning that they could never afford to go out to dinner at that restaurant.
“I come here a lot and I walk by, and I’m like, I can never afford to come in here and eat – or let alone take my kids here,” she said, full of emotion.
Let the good times roll
Homecoming was held at a casino (it is Las Vegas after all) and Kylie and Daniel got to walk the red carpet to the entrance for a dance to remember.
But The Surprise Squad wasn’t done with them.
We’re pretty sure the homecoming queen was overshadowed that night by a couple of people who took to the stage to make some special announcements to further reward Daniel and Kylie (and their families). The first was an all-expenses-paid trip to Disneyland for the whole group. But what came next was even more incredible.
To help make Daniel’s future dream of becoming a chef come true, Las Vegas United Nissan presented him with a $10,000 scholarship!
And as for Kylie, the surprise was one that took her breath away.
But you’ll have to scroll down below to see her amazing gift for yourself, as well as catch a sweet interview with the two friends.
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