Homecoming is a huge deal for teenagers. The dance is an opportunity to have fun with friends, dance the night away, and dress to impress. This teenager with Down Syndrome got the surprise of his life when a sophomore girl asked him to the homecoming dance. The two were in for a night they would never forget.
Daniel Rivas, a 17-year-old student at Shadow Ridge High School, wanted to go to the upcoming homecoming dance. He asked someone to be his date, but he was turned down. The heartbroken boy was worried that no one would want to go with him. Then something unexpected happened.
Kylie Fronius heard that Daniel was looking for a date and decided to ask him to the dance. She stood on the school’s campus holding a big sign asking if he would go with her. When Daniel saw it, he was overwhelmed with emotion. He accepted her offer, sealing the deal with a big hug.
Kylie was stoked to go to the homecoming dance with her new friend. “I don’t think of kids that have a disability as being different,” she shared with the Fox5 Surprise Squad. “I think of them just being a normal person learning in a different way.”
The teens’ sweet story swept the internet. By the time it reached the ears of the Surprise Squad team, they knew they had to get involved. The squad planned an evening the teenagers would remember for the rest of their lives.
The news crew showed up just as Daniel and Kylie were finishing up their pictures. After introducing themselves, they gave them the big news. The pair would not be riding in their own car to the dance – they would roll up in a black Rolls-Royce. And that wasn’t all: they had a stop planned along the way.
The two, along with Daniel’s mom, were treated to dinner at Bistro 57, an elegant restaurant that generously offered the group anything on the menu free of charge. Daniel’s mom was especially touched by the gesture. “I come here a lot,” she explained, “and I walk by, and I’m like, I can never afford to come in here and eat – or let alone take my kids here.” It meant so much to her that there was a whole team of people dedicated to making her son’s night special.
At the dance, Daniel and Kylie had a blast. The night couldn’t have been better, but the surprises weren’t over yet. The Surprise Squad paid to send Kylie, Daniel, and their families to Disneyland. Then Don Forman, the owner of United Nissan, stood on stage and gave Daniel a $10,000 scholarship so he could attend college after high school. The young student wanted to become a chef, and Don wanted to do his part to contribute to that dream.
Of course, he wanted to show gratitude to Kylie as well. Her act of kindness had turned Daniel’s entire night around, so she received a present of her own. The girl was gifted her very own Nissan Sentra! Kylie could not have been more grateful for the donation.
This night of smiles and surprises shows how powerful one simple act of kindness can be. Daniel is sure to cherish this night for the rest of his life.
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