So there's a family in Athens, Georgia,
whose story is a real-life version of Mark's movie Instant
Family.
Earlier this year a video went viral
of the mom and dad telling their foster daughter
that she was being adopted.
Look at this.
All right.
Well, there's one gift.
You have one more gift.
It's not from Grammy, but it's--
yeah, it's another gift.
I'm going to be adopted?
We love you, sweetheart.
We'll always be your parents.
I love you so much.
I love you.
Please welcome Paige, Daniel, and Ivy.
This is Mark Wahlberg.
There's Mark right there.
Yeah, it's crazy because this is really the story.
You heard about the movie, obviously.
You can't wait to see it, I'm sure.
Oh yes.
Yeah, we're like, this sounds familiar.
Yeah.
Yeah, OK, so-- and it's not just Ivy you adopted--
her siblings as well.
So how long ago, how did this start,
how long have you been a part of their family?
Yeah.
You don't have to answer the question.
Yeah, so we knew we wanted to grow
our family through adoption of some kind,
but we had never ever considered foster care.
We kind of had the approach that many people do,
that oh, I would get way too attached,
my heart would be broken.
You know, but then we had the chance
to actually talk with someone who fostered,
and they really challenged us on that.
They said, you know--
you know, we're adults, and were the most
equipped to deal with heartache, not children.
And that kind of started us on the path to fostering.
Yeah, and then immediately we got back home,
we started looking into it, started doing some training.
And at that time we heard some staggering statistics.
In our area there were over 250 kids in foster care.
And there were only 11 homes that were open.
Wow.
So that blew our minds, and we thought, well,
we don't feel ready to be parents,
but we're better than, you know, nothing.
And did you know you were going to adopt her from the start?
Well, when our home opened up, we got a call about a little
African-American boy, baby, his name was--
his name is Kai.
He's our-- he's our young-- our middle son.
And so, yeah, we were just head over heels for Kai.
But we also found out at that time about Ivy.
And she was in a foster home down the road.
So we started getting them together,
and then shortly after that we learned about Lita.
Well, the birth mom was pregnant with Lita, and so Paige--
Yeah.
--at that moment.
So we got a call from the hospital-- would we take Lita.
And I said, yes, but I didn't ask Daniel.
I just kind of said yes.
I knew he would say yes anyway.
So we were-- just had the two babies for a while,
and loved Ivy, but we weren't sure what direction the case
was going to go.
But then when it started to go towards adoption
they asked if we would adopt all three.
And of course we were like, yes.
We love them.
Yeah.
And so--
[APPLAUSE]
So--
Now, OK, here's-- the little boy is Kai?
Yeah.
OK.
So I heard that you go through training to be a foster parent.
You finished your training on a Friday,
and on Monday you got the call for him.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
So you had to, like, go out and get everything?
Like you had to get diapers and bed and everything.
Did you have anything?
Well, we-- the good thing that we did have is at our church
they put a support team around us, actually.
So we had, you know, people who were
dropping by that night with diapers and toys
and things like that.
Wow.
But, yeah, we did not have--
we had no experience.
I'll tell you that.
It is instant family.
It's the movie.
All right, so Mark is not just here to listen to me
talk to you.
Mark has something to say.
Oh yes, well, on behalf of the movie Instant Family,
we would love to donate a check to you guys for $25,000.
[APPLAUSE]
Oh my gosh.
Oh my gosh!
We have more with Mark after this.
Mark was just saying this is going to inspire
so many people to do this.
I mean, there are so many kids just that need a foster family,
but adoption is just so important too
because there's a lot of children out there
that need homes and, you know.
I mean, just look at the joy that you get to experience
every single day on her face.
It's just-- and she's saying she feels so lucky
because y'all are such good parents, so.
We're the lucky ones.
Yeah, really great.
OK, so the last time Mark was here
we filmed a commercial for his car dealership
in Columbus, Ohio, which I was responsible for a lot of sales.
And it went so well that we thought
we would do another one, and we would put you as part of it.
This gets a lot of pickup, so it'll help people,
you know, go buy cars from him.
All right, let's over here and--
[CHEERING]
Oh yeah.
All right, y'all going to get in.
We're going to get in the car, and we're going to be here.
You drive.
Where are we?
Right up there.
And then you got jackets too.
All right.
Try to both get in this window at the same time.
OK, OK.
We want to sell the family experience here.
This is a family car.
It's really responsible to show a child driving, Mark.
[LAUGHTER]
All right.
Brr.
Do you feel-- brr.
Do you feel that chill in the air, Mark?
I sure do, Ellen.
We need some more energy out of you though.
We're going to sell some cars.
(SHOUTING) There's snow on the ground, and bourbon in my mug.
That can only mean one thing-- it's cold here in central Ohio.
(SHOUTING) Then you and I should heat things up
around here, Ellen.
You're right.
Let's look at this shirtless photo of you.
[CHEERING]
And we can tell the good people of Ohio
all about the hot deals at Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet.
Take that down now.
All right.
You-- you're not going to believe these prices, folks.
I haven't see numbers--
Energy, energy.
(SHOUTING) I haven't seen numbers
like this since my body fat percentage in this picture
here!
[CHEERING]
Listen here, folks.
We have to get every one of these cars a new home
by Christmas Eve.
And here's the good news.
We've only got the percent--
perfect car for everyone here--
here's--
Keep drinking the bourbon, I'll handle the rest.
Everybody, on your holiday list, now there
is something for your jealous sister--
Your cousin Linda and her roommate Shelly.
Wow, and don't forget mom and dad
who are going to need some more space now that they've
adopted three amazing kids.
Look at this family right here sitting in this pretty brand
new 2019 Chevy Trax.
Now folks, like I say to my wife,
give me one honk if you like it, two honks if you love it.
[INAUDIBLE] hard.
[HORN HONKING]
[APPLAUSE]
Sounds like they love it.
So come on down to Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet.
Located at 3900 Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio.
Where our motto is if you pass the Chuck E. Cheese,
you've gone too far.
[LAUGHTER]
All right.
Come on out.
Thanks for helping us make that commercial.
[APPLAUSE]
All right.
That was awesome.
So you like the car?
Love the car.
Well, I happened to see the car that you're driving at home.
So we figured you need a brand new car.
So this is your brand new car.
[APPLAUSE]
Yahoo!
Hey, you [INAUDIBLE].
Now you can drive it.
Thank you, Ellen.
Merry Christmas.
Thank you so much.
Merry Christmas.
Look who's here!
What!
Want to give her a hug?
Can I have a hug?
Hello.
Say hi.
Well--
[APPLAUSE]
That's your new car.
We'll be right back.