It’s the top priority for any 17-year-old to find a date for a homecoming dance, so it can be a tough blow to self-confidence if no one agrees to go with them. Daniel Rivas, a 17-year-old Arizona boy with Down syndrome, is no exception here. Daniel Rivas, 17, was excited to attend the homecoming dance and his mother, Tonya Rivas, was excited about her son as well.
There was only one problem, though. He didn’t have a date.
After asking a number girls and being turned down each and every time, news of Daniel’s dilemma got back to 10th grader Kylie Fronius.
When Kylie heard Daniel was in neeed of a date, she stepped up right away and wanted to surprise her classmate.
So, she asked Daniel to be her date one day at school. Of course, Daniel was amazed by Kylie’s homecoming proposal.
“Someone took the time to take my son to homecoming,” said Tonya Rivas, Daniel’s mother, as her voice cracked with emotion.
“Words can’t even describe what I’m feeling right now,” she added, stunned by Kylie’s kind gesture.
Daniel’s mom Tonya was moved and flabbergasted by the girl’s kindness.
“It’s not that Daniel has a disability. It’s Kylie didn’t see any disability. That is what your heart wants as a mom.”
Still, this shocking surprise was just the start for the young boy. After Kylie’s sweet proposal hit social media, it drew the attention of the local news.
When Fox5 News heard of the story, they showcased the teens in a broadcast that won over thousands of hearts.
“I don’t think of kids that have a disability,” Kylie told Fox 5 KVVU-TV. “I don’t think of them as being different,” she added.
“I hope I can make his night fun.”
What the teens didn’t know, however, was that the station was also preparing a giant surprise.
Fox 5’s Surprise Squad, which is known for acknowledge people who do good things in the community by rewarding them with big surprises, decided the positive attention Kylie and Daniel had received wasn’t enough.
Impressed with Kylie’s empathy, they wanted to go big. And when the Suprise Squad goes big, they go big…
On the night of their homecoming dance, Kylie and Daniel were surprised by Monica Jackson, host of the Suprise Squad.
It all began with a Rolls Royce showing up to take the pair on their date.
After the luxury ride picked up the high schoolers, they were rushed away for a dinner at Bistro 57, a high-class, local bistro.
Kylie and Daniel then continued to receive the red carpet treatment.
The amazing night included a lot of crying, but they were tears of joy as the surprises kept coming.
Suddenly the event was put on pause.
“We’re not done,” host Monica Jackson said, appearing on the auditorium stage.
The Surprise Squad finished off the evening by ensuring more memories would be made, letting everyone know they were sending Kylie, Daniel, and their families to Disneyland.
To make sure the rest of Daniel’s dreams continued coming true, he was aslo rewarded a $10,000 scholarship from United Nissan in Las Vegas.
After that, they shocked Kylie with a brand new car.
“All you had to do was watch the (original) news story that aired, and you saw a young lady with a huge heart, and she was inspirational,” said Don Forman, the owner of United Nissan, revealing his motivation for making both Kylie and Daniel’s dreams come true.
It often takes just one simple yet kind gesture to create a snowball effect as others become motivated and inspired to also be generous and kind.
Kylie Fronius didn’t ask Daniel Rivas to homecoming to be rewarded or noticed, but good deeds tend to have that result.