I love New York City.
I love it so much. I sent Jeannie to the historic 30 Rock to
surprise the sisters from the Bronx.
Here's a letter one of them wrote to me.
It says, dear Ellen, I just wanted to say thank you.
Because watching your show has given us happiness when we needed it most.
Two years ago, I moved into my sister Cassandra's one-bedroom apartment
with her two wonderful children after their father unexpectedly passed away.
She is my best friend and is now raising these children on her own.
She is so kind and loves helping others.
She truly deserves the world, we watch your show everyday and
you make us better people.
One day, we hope to sit in your audience.
Thanks again for all you do, love, Melody.
And so they are there right now.
And they think they're about to film a promo for
my show with our New York station.
But really we're gonna surprise them.
Let's check in with Jeannie, Jeannie, hi.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> All right, so how's New York,
cold, freezing?
>> It's freezing cold but it's awesome, Ellen.
I love this city, it's so amazing.
>> I love it too, all right, let's go in and
surprise them right now, okay, head on in.
>> Surprise. >> Aah!
>> [APPLAUSE] >> My God.
>> Hi.
>> Aah!
My God, my God, my God, my God -- >> Say hi to Ellen.
>> Hi.
>> This is not real.
>> Hello, you two.
>> This is real, look onto Ellen.
>> Hi, hi -- >> Hi.
>> [CROSSTALK] >> I just heard you wanted to meet me
so, hi.
>> [LAUGH] >> My God, this is amazing.
>> How amazing that you're meeting Ellen.
>> [LAUGH] >> You guys wanted to meet Ellen, right?
>> Yes >> Yes, yes, yes, yes.
>> Happy belated holidays to you.
Now I know this has been a tough couple of years for you and your family.
And you weren't able to afford much for Christmas this year.
Cassandra, not only did your sister write in about you, but
your daughter did as well.
Here's a few things that she said about you.
My mom is selfless, she always thinks about everyone else before herself.
I know she struggles financially, but she never shows it.
She works really hard every day to give me and my little brother a better life.
Ellen, my mom is a good person and I want her to be happy.
And I know meeting you would make that happen.
How sweet is that, that your daughter wrote that.
>> I just, that's, I'm gonna die.
>> My goodness. >> I don't know what to say,
that's insane.
Like they're, they're keeping secrets.
>> I know. >> [LAUGH]
>> That's an amazing thing,
when you can hardly pay for your own life.
And yet you're helping the community.
>> We have a program called Dear Black Girls, so we live in the Bronx,
New York, it's more of an urban community.
And so we get the girls together ages 7 to 14.
And we spend time with them, we have tea parties.
We have sleepovers and breakfasts.
And we just try to encourage them and tell them that they're loved.
And that their dreams can come true, that they could be whatever they wanna be.
I created a journal for them full of inspirational letters and amazing quotes.
Just cuz it's just important for people to feel loved and happy.
And so you bring us so much joy so- >> So
much like every day just watching you and just being able to smile.
And just knowing that you're doing good all over the world is just amazing,
it's just so amazing.
>> Do you know who she is? >> Yes.
>> My God.
>> Well, thank- >> I didn't want to cry, I'm so
sorry, Ellen.
[LAUGH] >> You can do whatever you want,
you can cry, you can laugh.
You're crying cuz you are happy I assume.
And I know it means a lot to you to come and sit in my audience.
So we are going to bring your entire family to the show, how does that sound?
>> Aah!
>> My God!
Thank you so much, thank you so much, thank you,
thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
>> All right, we're gonna take a break and we'll come back and talk to you again.
Well we just surprised Cassandra and
her family at 30 Rock in New York City with the VIP tickets to the show.
And now I guess there's Brandon and Tatiana right?
>> Yes. >> Hi Ellen.
>> Hi Ellen.
Hi, all right, well I can't wait to see you.
You're coming to the show and I heard you are big fans of the 12 days of giveaways.
This year we gave away amazing things.
We gave away gift cards to Nordstrom, and Bed Bath & Beyond, and BestBuy, and VISA.
Airline tickets on JetBlue, Southwest trips to Jamaica, Las Vegas.
And I am going to give you everything we gave away during all of our
12 days of giveaways.
>> Aah!
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> That's a lot of money.
That's a lot of good gifts.