When I walked out here today, someone really
caught my attention.
I want to show you this audience member's reaction
when I walked out.
Here she is now, Ellen DeGeneres.
[CHEERING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(SINGING) [INAUDIBLE] the first time.
I know I can't [INAUDIBLE]
See?
That's the reaction I'm looking for.
What's your name?
What?
I'm sorry.
Your name is--
Amber Connelly.
Amber, come on down.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CHEERING]
Hi.
It's nice to meet you.
[CRYING] I'm sorry.
Hi.
I'm sorry.
You got your t-shirt with you.
I do.
You've got a t-shirt here.
Yes.
There's that.
Thank you.
Have some Kleenex.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
That's all right.
Don't be sorry.
I'm sorry.
Don't be sorry.
I'm sorry.
Don't.
I'm sorry that I'm sorry.
[LAUGHTER]
Don't be sorry.
Hi.
How are you doing?
Where do you live?
Philadelphia.
[CRYING] I'm sorry.
[LAUGHTER]
You're sorry you're from Philadelphia.
[LAUGHTER]
That's all right.
Is this your first time at the show?
Yes, it is.
It is?
Yeah.
OK.
So you wrote a letter.
I did.
Oh, no.
I was going to ask you to read it.
I don't think you can do it though.
No, I can't.
No.
I'm going to read it for you.
It says, (CRYING VOICE) "Dear Ellen--"
[LAUGHTER]
I'm going to read it as if you're reading it, OK?
Yeah.
(CRYING VOICE) "Dear Ellen, my name is Amber."
[LAUGHTER]
"And I'm sorry.
My dream is to meet you one day.
[WAILING] I was raised by an amazing mother.
I was raised by an amazing single mother,
and I have three younger siblings who I help raise.
And I watch your show every day and cherish
the life-changing things you do for others.
We don't have much, but you inspire
us to give to those in greater need.
We couldn't afford Christmas again this year,
so we decided to use the little money
we had to buy hats and gloves for the homeless.
Ellen, thank you for reminding us to be kind
and motivating us to keep moving and going
when we feel like giving up.
You are the real deal.
I hope my dream comes true.
Love, Amber."
[CHEERING]
I'm sorry.
Thank you.
How do I look?
You look good.
Well, your dream is coming true, so you're excited.
I really am.
I'm glad.
OK, so you have an amazing single mom,
and you have siblings.
And how many siblings do you have?
Three.
And where are they?
In Philadelphia.
Really?
Are they?
Yeah.
I bet they're not.
[CRYING]
[CHEERING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Ellen!
Hi.
Careful, careful, careful.
Hi.
Yes.
Are you sorry too?
[INAUDIBLE] I'm shaking.
I'm sorry.
I'm trying to be cool.
Oh, my god, I'm sorry.
Hey.
It's all right.
Hey, Ellen.
[INAUDIBLE]
Hi.
Ellen, we love you.
How are you doing?
It's OK.
Oh, my gosh.
He's 13.
Can you believe it?
[CHEERING]
All right.
Have a seat.
Oh, my god.
All right, sit on down.
Oh, no, oh, no.
Oh, wait a minute.
OK, all right, so we have one mic to share.
[INAUDIBLE]
So who's who?
Who are you?
Kai.
I'm Carolyn.
Carolyn.
Caleb.
Cameron.
All right, you two are twins.
Yes.
You're how old, 8?
8.
8, yes.
OK, and you're--
I'm the oldest.
I'm 13.
13.
Yeah.
So you watch the show as well, right?
Yeah.
Yes.
All right, what is your favorite part of the show for you all?
Every part.
When you gave Tiffany Haddish the Tesla.
[LAUGHTER]
Well, sure.
That was nice of me, huh?
Yeah.
Yes, that was very nice.
She didn't even take it home.
You make sure people's OK, happy.
Yeah.
[INAUDIBLE]
I try to make sure of that, yes.
All right, and Carolyn--
That the homeless are safe.
Yes.
Give homeless food.
That's so sweet.
So that obviously inspired--
That's what we used to do.
Shh.
Well, I know.
That's why you're here, because we know you do that.
So Carolyn, so you are, as it says in the letter, kind
of living paycheck to paycheck.
Why is it so important to take the little that you have
and help other people?
Well, because that could be myself and my family one day.
So I just try to let them know not to take life for granted.
And everybody does not try to get into a hard situation.
Sometimes they fall into a hard situation.
Exactly.
So I figure if they actually live it and see it and help,
they'll give back and teach their children.
Really sweet, really sweet.
OK, and the fact that you at this age like to help as well,
that's really cool.
Yes.
OK, our friends at Walmart are inspired
by your kindness and generosity towards your community.
And to help you keep leading by example,
they want to give your family a check for $20,000.
Oh, my god.
[CHEERING]
Oh, my god.
I'm hot.
[CRYING]
[CHEERING]
Oh, my god.
[CHEERING]
Yeah.
We're back with Amber and her family who were telling me
all about my life.
They know everything about me.
They know that we have a horse, and we have dogs and cats,
and my favorite cat is Charlie.
You know what size shoe I wear, everything.
Wow.
Favorite color.
Wow.
The blue.
Oh, look at my nails.
Yeah, it's Ellen blue.
Wow.
Well, now I'm scared.
[LAUGHTER]
No, I'm not.
All right, so Caleb, I told you during the break.
I heard you wrote a letter as well.
Yes.
What did you say in the letter?
Well, what I said was I'm the oldest.
I have to protect my mom, my sister, and my little brothers.
So I wrote to Ellen.
So my mom she's hard to come up with money.
She doesn't really have a lot.
She tries her best.
She tried to get us something for our birthday,
for Christmas, but she couldn't afford anything this year.
Sometimes when I walk in on my mom,
she'll be crying in her room.
She tries to act like nothing happened, so strong.
I just wanted to see if Ellen could help.
Yep.
Well, Ellen's going to try to help.
[LAUGHTER]
And what do you do right now?
I'm a social worker for the city of Philadelphia.
A social worker, all right.
[APPLAUSE]
All right, so I have one more thing for your family, OK?
Yes.
So you're familiar with our 12 Days of Giveaways, right?
Yes.
Yeah.
All right, well, we want to give you
every single thing we gave away for our 12 Days of Giveaways.
Oh, my god.
Stop.
[MUSIC - ANDY WILLIAMS, "IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE
YEAR"]
(SINGING) It's the most wonderful time of the year.
[SCREAMING]
Oh, my god.
(SINGING) With the kids' jingle-belling and everyone
telling you "be of good cheer--"
Oh, my god.
(SINGING) It's the most wonderful time of the year.
[SCREAMING]
[INAUDIBLE] No, oh, my god.
Oh, my god.
Hi, I'm Andy.
Ellen asked me to remind you to subscribe to her channel
so you can see more awesome videos,
like videos of me getting scared or saying embarrassing things,
like ball-peen hammer, and also some videos of Ellen
and other celebrities, if you're into that sort of thing.
Ah.
Ah!
[BLEEP]
God, [BLEEP].