We've had over 40 people write in to our show
about an incredible young man from Pennsylvania named Ben.
Ben was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old.
He's apparently one of my biggest fans.
He also loves the Philadelphia Eagles football team
and my friend Jon Dorenbos.
So we brought him here, and right now he's
backstage with Jon.
He thinks he's filming something for ellentube,
but we may have just said that to get him here.
Jon, if you can hear me, just yell out I love Ellen.
I love Ellen!
Me too!
We love Ellen!
Yes!
All right.
I'm going to surprise Ben right now.
OK, OK, we got to calm down for a minute.
Why do you love football?
I love football--
Ben!
Hey, excuse me.
I'm sorry.
Somebody wants to say something.
Hi, Ben.
[SCREAMING]
Why?
Ben--
Wait, is it happening?
Wait!
Hold on, hold on.
What are you doing back there?
You're supposed to be out here.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait--
Ben!
Oh my gosh!
Guess what.
We're going--
--you're supposed to be here.
[CHEERING]
Hi, Ben.
What's up, love?
What a surprise.
I know.
This is amazing.
I dreamed about this for three years.
Well, you made it happen.
I did.
Yeah, you did.
You dreamed about it, and now you're sitting right here.
I'm so happy to have you here.
Oh my gosh.
I've heard so much about you.
So you're my biggest fan.
Yeah.
How often do you watch the show?
I watch it every day, Ellen.
Well, that's what I'm asking.
That's all I ask of you.
Is-- every-- look, just like Ben here.
And you're a huge Philadelphia Eagles fan.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And what do you think of this guy right there?
He's amazing, he's incredible, he does a lot for autism.
He does a lot for the city of Philadelphia.
You know, because of people like this guy right here.
Yeah.
[APPLAUSE]
You inspire us, man.
I'm going to cry.
This is so exciting.
Well, I'm sure.
It's very exciting because you dreamed
about this for three years.
I did.
So you were diagnosed with autism at two years old.
Yes, Ellen, it was incredible.
And you couldn't talk.
When I was two I didn't talk.
I only knew 200 words.
I mean, I only knew 20 words.
20 words.
And then a speech therapist taught me how to talk.
Her name is Paula Barson.
And today I just talk and talk, there's no off button on me.
Yeah, yeah.
[APPLAUSE]
All right.
So I think that's pretty hopeful for people out there who
have kids with autism, and they're
told they're not going to talk.
And then all of a sudden you learn how to talk.
That's pretty amazing.
So, and you have how many jobs?
I have two jobs.
All right.
What do you do?
I work at Olive Garden.
I do salad and breadsticks.
Uh-huh.
And I also work at Dorney Park.
I'm a park ambassador.
Uh-huh.
And I walk around and talk to guests all day.
And I turn the--
[APPLAUSE]
--and I turn the frowns to smiles.
You turn the frowns to smiles?
Yes, and I like to be like you, because you know why?
I love surprising people, and I love saying, "hello,"
and I like to give out surprises.
I like giving them fast lanes and soda cups.
Oh, that's so nice.
So that's your favorite job?
Absolutely.
That's great.
But giving out breadsticks is nice too.
[LAUGHTER]
That's why--
Have you ever been to Olive Garden?
Yeah, oh, sure, sure.
That's the best place on earth, never ending pasta bowl.
It's like family.
All right.
All right, so you like to raise awareness about autism.
Why is that important to you?
Because, I have a great quote, Ellen, having autism
is not a bad thing, and it doesn't
characterize who we are.
We are unique and special just like a rainbow.
[APPLAUSE]
Yes.
Yes, Ben.
Yes.
Let's be best friends, Ellen, forever.
Let's be best friends.
Yes.
OK, we'll do it.
I have another best friend in the audience,
but we'll be best friends too.
Oh.
All right.
So you're an ambassador for the Eagles.
What do you do there?
I actually talk to people all day.
And I research funds for autism, and I do a lot of stuff
and I help people with autism.
That's great.
You got a lot of jobs.
I do.
OK, so you have a surprise, right?
I do, I do.
OK, tell him when you're going to do.
I think we're going to do some magic,
but I'm going to need your help.
OK.
So should we do it now?
Actually, I forgot to give you one thing.
I forgot to give you a pen.
Oh.
Oh!
It's for you.
You know what, and you know what, I have another surprise.
In order for this to work in a little bit,
I think you should wear this because I
heard you left yours at home.
So I got my ring.
What?!
And I heard they gave you a replica, but for right now,
you've got to wear that for this little segment here.
OK.
Because you're a Super Bowl champion in this entire world
and what you do.
What?!
And you are awesome.
Don't lose that ring.
Yeah, don't lose that.
Oh, I forgot to show it on camera.
There we go.
And I got this.
All right.
So we'll take a break, and when we come back
Jon is going to do some magic, which is always fun for me
anyway.
We're back with Jon Dorenbos, my friend,
Ben-- my best friend, Ben.
Oh!
So Ben, you've been raising money for Eagles autism
challenge.
How much are you trying to raise?
$10,000, Ellen.
$10,000, all right.
That's-- and we're going to put up a link to the page so we can
help raise the money so you can go to our website
and we'll help you.
All right, Jon-- magic?
Yeah, we're going to try something,
but I need you to help me out.
Let's open the doors.
Oh wow, that's magic.
We have a huge gift box, but Ben this is the only problem.
What?
This thing came, look, here's the problem.
This thing came, and I don't know why,
but it came empty, which is really, really weird.
Here's what I need your help with pal.
I need you-- what's your favorite magic word?
Abracadabra.
That's amazing.
Are you ready for this?
Ready.
Give it to me again, pal.
What is it?
Abracadabra.
Abracadabra?
Yup.
Can you do this?
[HAND CLAP]
Jon Dorenbos, oh yeah.
Oh!
It's an even better word.
And if I actually reach in here, I got a gift for you.
And you got tickets to Universal Studios.
Not only that, you're going to ride every roller coaster--
Absolutely.
--but you're going to go to the front of the line,
and you're never going to wait.
This is for you guys, and you're going tomorrow!
[APPLAUSE]
Yes!
All right.
Yes!
Wonderful!
Absolutely!
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, that was a good word.
Ben, that was a good word, but everybody
knows the word abracadabra.
I'm sure that you can think of, maybe,
a bigger word that has, maybe, a bigger meaning.
And then, maybe, we can get a bigger gift.
What do you think?
The problem is, the bigger the word, the bigger the gift.
What about--
Humongous!
Oh my gosh, that's such a big word!
It's a-- you're right.
That is a big word.
The magic word is humongous?
Yes, humongous, yes.
1, 2, 3, say humongous.
Everybody-- hold on, 1, 2, 3--
Humongous!
And that's when we can reach in.
And guess what, Ben, the Eagles decided to give you
something really big.
It's the helmet.
Everybody signed it.
We got a t-shirt, and this is cool.
Ellen, hold this.
Yeah, OK.
What is this, Ellen.
These are tickets to go see the Philadelphia Eagles.
And you've got field access.
Any game, he can go to any game he wants.
And, Ben, are you ready for this?
Ready.
Not only are you going to go to the game,
but you're going to be on the field with the players.
Any game you want, you let us know, and you are going.
That's amazing.
But hold on, hold on, hold on.
That is exciting.
There's something I learned.
What did you learn, Jon?
Every show Ellen says be kind to one another.
Yes.
And I've learned this, that when Ellen has a magic word--
and guess what, when she says it,
that's when the real magic happens.
So let's see if we can do this.
I don't know if it's going to happen.
But--
--Still empty.
--I think your favorite thing is when Ellen says what
at the end of her show?
Be kind to one another.
I think you should say that.
1, 2, 3, be kind to one another.
And guess what.
I think we can reach in here.
And now we have another gift that Ellen wants to give you.
Oh, man.
And guess what.
What?
This is going to go right here.
This is going to be amazing.
Our friends at Shutterfly are inspired
by what you're doing for the community
so they want to give you $10,000 for your Eagles Autism
Challenge.
And you've got your $10,000!
[APPLAUSE]
He's got his $10,000 for Eagle autism.
Awesome.
You dreamed that too.
Everything you dreamed is coming true.
We'll be right back.
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.
[BLEEP]
God!
[BLEEP]