At the beginning of COVID, we met an incredible family
from South Bend, Indiana who had to drive
to a parking lot every day just to get Wi-Fi.
Take a look.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
What is it like to go to the parking lot
every single day to get Wi-Fi and to get the school work
done?
Oh, it's wonderful.
It gives us a chance to be together as a family,
and it also gives the kids a chance
to get their homework and everything done.
When I decided to have kids, I made a vow
that education was going to be the most important
in their life, to get them where they needed to go in life.
To speak for my siblings, my mom, backstory,
taught us so much that if we do not stay on track,
she will be on our back.
And I just love being their mom, you know,
so they have inspired me to be the best of me.
We think you, mom, thanks for everything.
Greendot is also giving you $20,000.
So that's $25,000 for your family.
All right, Tawana and her family were
in our skybox, come on down.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
Hi!
[CHEERING CONTINUES]
Hi.
There should be a mic there for you too.
Hi Tawana.
Hi, everybody
Hi!
You can take your masks off now.
OK
You're good, you're safe, you're tested, I'm tested.
Hi.
Welcome everybody.
So tell me who's who.
You're Tawana.
I'm Tawana, I'm the mom.
Yep.
I'm Ta'Nyi, I'm the second oldest.
I'm Ta'Myra, I'm the younger sister.
I'm Taydan, I'm the youngest.
I'm Tyrin, I'm the middle.
And I'm Taylor, I'm the oldest.
Hi, hi.
Well thank you for being here, and thank you
for everything you do.
Obviously everybody is saluting all essential workers
and first responders, and you are working hard
every single day, putting your health at risk
to make sure everybody else is taken care of.
Tell everybody what you do.
Well I am a cafeteria supervisor.
So I've been working there for 11 years,
and I make sure that the kids are fed, the teachers are fed,
and I make sure that since the schools have been closed down,
I make sure that everybody is receiving a lunch.
Right.
And not only that, but during the weekend,
you make sure that you're passing food
out to the homeless, and making sure they
have something to eat.
Yes, because there's so many young people,
as far as children, and there's a lot of homeless people
out there.
So we make sure that we give back every weekend.
Yeah, it's amazing.
I mean we already had a problem, and now we
have a bigger problem because of COVID,
and more and more people are struggling
to feed their families.
And the fact that you're doing that is incredible.
Are you going to school remotely now,
or are you in school, what's happening?
We're going to school, It's called hybrid,
with my siblings.
Me and my sister we go three times a day,
and my little brother my other brother, my little brother,
he goes two times a day also.
And because we're at medical [INAUDIBLE]
we had to be there more than one time throughout the day.
So that's how we're going right now.
Yeah, and you're a senior right?
Yes I am.
So it must be hard.
You're the captain of the cheer team?
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
And volleyball, and your straight-a student.
Yes.
So you like to keep busy, and this must be really hard
for you.
Yes, it actually is.
I'm also the class president of my senior class.
So because of COVID that I can't be in school,
people contact me throughout class, of younger siblings,
and my brothers and sisters in the whole Washington High
School.
And they will ask me for help, and I still
stay on track of my straight A's, but I also help others.
Amazing, amazing.
And so we gave you $25,000.
You haven't spent any of it on yourself.
No, we haven't spent any of it on ourselves.
Actually, I've given back to each one of my kids' school,
through the athletic department.
Because our athletic departments were struggling.
But I mean, you're struggling too,
and yet you're making sure that everybody else is
taken care of before you.
What are your plans for the rest of the money?
Because you have some money left.
Yes, so I would love to take me and my kids,
when everything is over, I would love
to take me and my kids on a vacation, Florida or maybe--
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
Memphis, to the mountains or something,
give us a chance to be together.
Yeah, get away a little bit.
Yes.
All right.
We have to take a break.
We're going to talk more after this, all right?
OK.
I guess you know how amazing your mom is, right?
Anybody want to tell me why you think she's so amazing?
I'll personally go first because through to the years, me
growing up, my mom has taught me to be a better young lady
than what I usually see.
So I thank her for giving me that prime example.
So I like mom for that.
[APPLAUSE]
She's nice, she's smart, and she's very active,
and I love her the way she is.
Me, I love my mom.
She's a wonderful woman, and I love her cooking.
[LAUGHTER]
Oh, me?
I love my mom by everything, really,
because she's been there since I was younger.
And the man I am right now, it all came from her,
so I thank her.
Love you, Ma.
Love you too.
[APPLAUSE]
For as long as I can remember, my mom
has always been everyone's mom.
She's always been the helper, the supporter,
and the one always giving back to other people.
Everybody always comes to her when
they need someone to talk to, look up, or anything.
So I just love my mom for always being there for me,
all my friends, and all my siblings.
Wow.
What more can you ask for?
For your kids to respect you and love you like that.
Can you help me with something, Tawana?
Before we go, I have tried to deliver something to your house
several times, and it says no one's there to receive it.
We have a--
I'm going to try to do it one more time.
Let's see, do we have a camera there still?
Is that your street?
Yeah.
OK.
Is that your house?
Yeah.
That's your house?
Yeah.
All right, this is taking longer than I thought, OK.
While we're waiting I want to tell you a story.
Have you heard about Ellen's Hyundai Fun Days?
All month long, I'm partnering with Hyundai
to celebrate real life heroes, like you.
And we thought we'd check in on that delivery one more time.
Let me see if it's--
Tawana-- Oh there it is.
Finally.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
That-- there it is.
[CHEERING]
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
Let me tell you something, that's your brand new Hyundai
Palisade.
It's the ultimate family SUV.
Congratulations, It's a beautiful car.
It drives beautifully, it's safe,
you're all going to fit in it comfortably.
A couple of other things.
So tonight, you're getting your driver's license soon, right?
OK, so you're going to spend some money on buying a car,
right?
So you have one, right?
But you could probably use two, so look over there.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHEERING]
Go on over!
Come on over!
[CHEERING CONTINUES]
I got something here!
[CHEERING]
That's your car!
Thank you!
That's your car!
Thank you, thank you!
All right, that's the all new Hyundai Elantra, its bold
and modern with best in class technology,
digital key, dynamic voice recognition, that is your car,
congratulations.
Thank you!
[CHEERING]