Tisha Beauchmin considered herself a regular person. She lived in the suburbs of Las Vegas with her husband Kevin. They both worked — she as a bingo cashier, he as an asset protection officer — and were raising five kids. But in 2017, when Tisha’s neighbor Audrey asked if she’d watch Audrey’s three kids during an unexpected hospital visit, Tisha said yes to the biggest, most irregular adventure of her entire life.
Neighbors Tisha and Audrey didn’t even know each other that well. Audrey was a single mom down the block, and one of her daughters happened to be friends with one of Tisha’s daughters. When Audrey needed to go get some last minute tests, she had nowhere else to turn.
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The next morning, the test results came back. Audrey called Tisha and asked her to break the news to her kids: she had stage two esophageal cancer, and while she was okay for the time being, her future hung in the balance.
Beauchmin Family
Tisha agreed to keep watching the kids while Audrey got treated; after all, it was the least she could do for a neighbor. However, it wasn’t long before doctors came back with an even more shocking prognosis. They gave Audrey only a few months to live.
She was getting sicker day by day, and there wasn’t much time left. Audrey called Tisha, desperate. “Can you take care of my children when I go?” she asked. Tisha was stunned.
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What else could she do? The only other option was foster care, and Tisha had been through the foster system herself. She knew it was no way for a kid to grow up. Children need stability and a loving home. So she told Audrey yes.
Beauchmin Family
Shortly afterward, Audrey passed, and her kids moved into the Beauchmin house. It was a no-brainer for Tisha. She added three places to the dinner table, rearranged the sleeping situations a bit, and welcomed the kids with open arms. The house was a little cramped and things got messy, but that was that.
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However, when Tisha and Kevin filled out the paperwork to become Audrey’s kids’ legal guardians, the situation got tricky. They couldn’t get approved as foster parents because their home was too small. And even though both parents worked, Tisha worried whether the money would continue to feed everybody.
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Unbeknownst to Tisha, their community saw them struggling and wanted to help out. The Beauchmins’ neighbor, Elizabeth Thames, reached out to local TV station FOX 5 News. She knew the station had a team, called the Surprise Squad, who helped locals in need.
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When the Surprise Squad got wind of the story, they recognized they had a special family on their hands. So they loaded up a video crew in their car and drove down to the Beauchmin home to pay them a visit.
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Caught offguard, Tisha opened the door. Her dog was barking, and she had a million things to do — who were these strangers on the porch? But when they explained they’d been sent by her neighbor Elizabeth, she let them inside.
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The Surprise Squad was astonished by the family’s adjustment to the new living situation. The two oldest Beauchmin kids, Holly and Chad, were sleeping in the kitchen and the living room after giving up their rooms for the younger kids. This was just one change.
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The family had even converted their loft into a sleeping space for the youngest boys, but the foster care system required them to install a wall to make it a real bedroom. That was the big problem: the cost of putting the wall in was more than they could afford.
“I can’t lose these kids,” Tisha said. “I may not have had them in my belly, but I have them in my heart.” That’s when the Squad dropped the big news.
FOX5 Las Vegas
The Surprise Squad already had a construction team ready to build the wall, and they’d give the family an all-expense-paid stay at a local resort during the construction! Tisha’s reaction was newsworthy.
Tisha broke down into tears. This was the kindest thing anyone had ever done for them, and as they packed their bags for the hotel stay, she kept thanking the FOX 5 team over and over. Little did she know, the kindness wouldn’t stop there.
FOX5 Las Vegas
As soon as the family had left, the Surprise Squad moved all of their furniture out of the house, so they could deep clean, paint the walls, and replace carpeting and doors. They also got to work fixing up the landscaping outside the home.
Gone were the old beds and worn-out furniture. Local furniture stores donated new couches, tables, chairs, beds, and shelving to the family’s cause. The local Nissan dealership even donated a brand new twelve-passenger van.
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When the Beauchmins returned, they couldn’t believe their eyes. Not only was the house redone, but their friends and family had come to welcome them home. As they walked through the newly renovated rooms, their shock grew.
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Not only did the kids now have spaces and furniture to call their own, but also had new bedding, games, school supplies, and decor. Holly wouldn’t have to sleep in the kitchen any more, and Chad received $1500 to go towards getting his own apartment.
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There was one more surprise left. The Squad told the family they’d be receiving a year’s worth of free groceries from the local grocery store. They’d be able to save money and keep everyone fed, and wouldn’t have to stress about it any more.
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The whole family cried tears of happiness. Relieved and overjoyed, Tisha and Kevin had nothing but gratitude for their community. “I didn’t do anything too special, I did what anybody in my shoes would have done,” Tisha said.
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Now, at the end of a tough year, they could truly enjoy their Christmas miracle. “It’s just really overwhelming that somebody would do this for [us] and for [our] family,” said Tisha. Meanwhile, while she was on the receiving end of kindness, another mom not so far away was about to earn a life-changing surprise herself.
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Cara Simmons fully represents what it’s like to be a strong independent American woman. A single mother to three kiddies, she works hard every day to give them the best life possible. She’s a hero to her family, which is a heavy title to constantly bear.
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Cara, who works as a housekeeper for cleaning company Maid Brite, simply got used to the backbreaking housekeeping duties she performed every day; she didn’t know the meaning of a “day off.” Being the sole breadwinner was no easy gig.
Break / YouTube
She was never a slacker nor a complainer, and all of the physical labor and stress Cara endured to keep her own household afloat eventually took a serious toll on her health. Thinking of her children, Cara pushed through her concerns, making her issues worse.
Break / YouTube
Sadly, Cara’s excessive stress and exhaustion levels gave her ulcers, which landed her in the hospital more than once. She already had piles of bills to tend to, so additional medical bills only turned the piles into mountains.
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Just one night spent in an Ohio hospital can cost over $2,000, which was $2,000 more than Cara had to spare. But things only got worse when Cara found out she had ulcerative colitis, a chronic disease requiring a lot of medical attention. Cara’s head was spinning.
With the added medical expenses, Cara had no time to be stifled by panic, she simply got back to vacuuming, scrubbing, dusting houses. Her boss, Mary Jo Dean, couldn’t help but notice Cara’s strong work ethic and crystal clear dedication to her job. She got to thinking…
Mary Jo desperately wanted to aid in Cara’s taxing situation, as Cara had been one of her dear employees and friends for years. “She gives her all, to her work and her family,” Mary Jo said of Cara in a video interview.
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Initially, all she could think to do was continue sending Cara on house calls, despite her work schedule already being packed. But she’d soon send Cara on an important house call in Cleveland Heights that would change everything.
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When Cara arrived at the Cleveland Heights home, punctual as always, she was greeted by a woman named Madeline, who informed Cara that the house was already cleaned. Cara immediately knew that this house call would be… different.
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Cara was told there were additional tasks to be taken care of for a “big party” that was being held to honor Madeline’s boss. Though in her mind Cara was weirded out, as she was hired as a maid, but didn’t question the client’s somewhat-odd wishes.
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Her tasks included taste-testing the cooking of internationally renowned chef Manny Slomovits (which included ritzy ingredients like edible gold), receiving a massage to help the massage therapists “warm up their hands” before the party, and help “clear out” the house’s closets by trying on and taking home designer clothes.
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Cara couldn’t help but wonder what on earth was going on! Her peculiar day on the job got even wilder when a moving company arrived with loads of cardboard boxes… filled with Cara’s personal belongings.
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Cara’s mind was moving a million miles a minute. When a mover explained he was told to deliver the boxes to the house’s owner, a woman named “Ms. Simmons,” Cara simply thought the whole thing was a misunderstanding.
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When the mover asked Cara if she would kindly step outside, she agreed, and Madeline followed. He told her to take a peek inside the moving truck, as it would help clear up some confusion.
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When she walked to the rear of the truck, she received the shock of her life. Cara’s three kids and her sister jumped out of the truck, as the whole “house call” was a… prank? But why?
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As everyone gleefully looked at Cara’s puzzled expression, the “mover” formally introduced himself as Greg Benson, actor and host of the web series Prank It Forward, which was committed to “pranks for good.” Cara’s whole peculiar day was secretly filmed for the show.
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But the surprises weren’t over, as Cara was then informed that the four-bedroom house was hers to keep forever! Cara could barely even stand up straight; all she could utter was “thank you.” Mary Jo and Cara’s sister, Glo Nicholson, had nominated her for the episode.
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“Cara is an amazing person, an amazing sister, she’s selfless, she works hard. She’d give you the shirt off your back,” Glo said of her warmhearted sister in an interview. Everyone in Cara’s life seemed to be enamored with her kind, giving soul.
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“This is your home, you can stay here for your whole life, you can pass it down to your children, you can pass it down to your grandchildren, this is for you,” Greg explained to Cara, who was still overwhelmed and astonished.
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“I have never owned a home. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would ever be able to own a home. It was the same chance as walking on the moon, that’s how I felt about it,” Cara said, clearly emotional. But the surprises weren’t over…
Break / YouTube
Not only was that party actually in honor of Cara, but she was also gifted with an all-inclusive trip to Mexico’s Riviera Maya to see the pyramids with her sister. She was in desperate need of some relaxing vacation time and general TLC. Bon voyage!
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The positive story soon went viral, which led Hollywood legend Queen Latifah to invite Cara and Mary Jo on her talk show! Cara Simmons was surely deserving of all of this love and attention, based on the energy she constantly puts into the world.
Queen Latifah / YouTube
And while Cara’s giving, hardworking heart earned her a reward, true honesty did the same for Salt Lake City, Utah, resident and shopper Sydnee. One particular trip to her local mall would end in a way she couldn’t have expected.
When she pulled into the mall’s parking lot one afternoon, her nerves got the best of her. The lot was more full than it usually was, and fitting her car into a spot was going to prove to be challenging.
She finally settled on a spot, but when she pulled in, there wasn’t even enough room for her to open her door. So, Sydnee backed out to look elsewhere, and that’s when she gasped…
As she was backing out, Sydnee felt her car bump the vehicle next to hers. She immediately panicked as she had never been in an accident before. How exactly was she going to handle this?
She first needed to see just how much damage she caused. Luckily, her car was fine, but the other car had a scratch that left a black paint smudge on the bumper…
Feeling guilty, Sydnee wrote a note explaining what happened and left it underneath the other vehicle’s windshield wipers. She made sure to include her phone number so they could contact her for insurance information, but little did she know who she was leaving the note for.
The car belonged to Stuart Edge, and when it comes to the world of YouTube, many people know exactly who he is. He joined the website in 2012, and since then he has accumulated millions of subscribers and hundreds of millions of views!
Of all the people Sydnee could have literally bumped into, it was someone who made hugely popular internet videos. If Stuart wanted to get even with Sydnee he had the means to do so on a global scale…
Unbeknownst to Sydnee, Stuart and his crew were filming nearby where she was shopping that day. Once they wrapped up a couple hours after Sydnee’s ‘accident’, Stuart saw the note and decided to get the camera back out.
Stuart read the note into the camera. He was in awe at how honest Sydnee was considering the mark on his car was barely noticeable. He met a lot of people in his life, but this note was clearly from someone with a kind heart, so he set out on a mission.
One of Stuart’s crew members suggested pranking Sydnee somehow. She thought they should play a lighthearted joke on the honest young woman and record it all for their next internet video — and they knew exactly what to do.
Stuart’s friend pulled out her cell phone and, pretending to be the owner of the car Sydnee hit, called her. Sydnee was so apologetic, and Stuart’s friend suggested they meet up to exchange information. This was where Stuart came in.
After agreeing on a nearby location, Stuart and his crew parked across the street and saw Sydnee waiting alone at a table. Stuart sat down at the table next to hers, and the two started to chat…
Stuart asked Sydnee why she was there, and she told him how she hit a car in a parking lot and was waiting to meet the vehicle’s owner. After a bit more small talk, Stuart finally pulled out the big reveal.
Stuart told Sydnee the whole thing was a set-up! He pointed out the camera and told her who he was. Sydnee couldn’t believe it. To top it all off, Stuart gave her $200 just for telling the truth.
Sydnee was speechless, but so excited nonetheless. The two embraced and Sydnee insisted Stuart keep the money to fix his car. But he had one more surprise in store for her.
Stuart’s friend Jenica, who had pretended to be the car’s owner, then came over and gave Sydnee a hug too. Sydnee’s act of kindness had moved all those involved, and others quickly took note.
See, their touching story quickly went viral. Sydnee hadn’t just made $200 that day (Stuart insisted she keep it), she also had her 15 minutes of fame! But Stuart got his own prize.
See, Stuart had always wanted to make videos to help bring people together, and he had finally accomplished that. He was certain that he had inspired people to show a little more kindness day to day.
And Sydnee, wasn’t alone in her willingness to be kind. Even though Elmer Alveraz lived in his car, he made a move no one expected when he found something valuable in the street.
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Alvarez had been homeless for several winters in New Haven, so he understood the difficulties of the months ahead. Times had been worse for Elmer, despite his current situation.
Drug addiction had led Elmer down a difficult path. Even though he didn’t have a stable place to rest his head each night, he managed to kick his addictions by attending NA meetings. Talk about beating the odds!
Unfortunately, finding a way out of being homeless constantly tormented him; getting yourself off the streets is much easier said than done. But pacing the familiar streets on one chilly November morning, Elmer walked right up to an opportunity…
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Right in the center of the path was a bit a paper. Most people walking by wouldn’t give the scrap a second glance, but Elmer stopped and examined the forgotten note.
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It wasn’t a discarded receipt or a bit of trash: the paper was a freshly signed check. Air whooshed from his lungs when his eyes landed on the amount written on the line…
The amount of the check was a stunning $10,000. With it endorsed and ready to go, Elmer could’ve transformed his life with that kind of cheddar! No one was around, nothing was stopping him from running to the nearest bank.
But taking the money never crossed Elmer’s mind, not for a second. He turned the check over and, low and behold, a phone number was in fact listed on the back.
Elmer walked the streets until he finally managed to track down a friend with a cellphone. As a Spanish speaker, he had his friend make the call to the check’s addressee.
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At the same time, in an office a few blocks away, a prominent businesswoman heard her phone ring. Roberta Hoskie, a self-made real estate magnate, was CEO and President of both Outreach Realty Services and Outreach School of Real Estate. She answered the call.
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On the other line, Elmer’s friend explained that his friend found her substantial check and wanted to return it to her. Roberta was floored. Had she really lost something so important?
She rifled through her bag, not believing it was possible, only to quickly realize he was right. Shocked that someone was kind enough to reach out, she agreed to meet him immediately.
Once on the street, Roberta opened Facebook Live to document the resolution of the stranger’s good deed. She spotted Elmer and his friend, and couldn’t thank them enough for doing the right thing.
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With Elmer too polite to draw attention to himself, his friend let Roberta know her savior was, in fact, homeless. This struck a chord with Roberta on a personal level that made the events all the more meaningful…
See, before she was a high-powered real estate queen, Roberta faced similar obstacles to Elmer’s. At 17 years old, Roberta was pregnant. To care for her child she had to drop out of school.
She’d been a financially difficult place to begin with, but now, with another mouth to feed, she and her child had no choice but to enter housing shelters to avoid living on the streets.
But thanks to a crucial internship at Yale University that catapulted her life out of debilitating poverty, Roberta was able to break out of the cycle — but she never forgot her time in the shelters.
Oncampus.ru / Flickr
It was because of her past that she knew that her run in with Elmer was not a coincidence. She resolved to take the opportunity to pay it forward, in a big way.
Telling Elmer to wait right there, she hurried back to her office to get her checkbook. She wanted to do more for Elmer than just give him some temporary reprieve.
While brainstorming on Facebook live, a suggestion from a follower gave her the idea. Roberta smiled and vowed, “I’m going to teach him how to fish.”
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Back on the street, Roberta handed over a check, this one addressed to Elmer, and he burst into grateful tears. The pair hugged, and Roberta shared her own story with him.
Elmer couldn’t believe just how much they had in common. Their newfound connection fresh in their hearts, they parted ways. That’s when Roberta put her plans into motion.
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But prejudice reunited them faster than Roberta expected. When Elmer went to cash his check, even with a signature and his ID, shockingly, the bank refused to help him.
They suspected it was fraudulent, just because Elmer wasn’t their typical customer. A quick call to Roberta eased their unwarranted suspicion about the homeless man.
Two weeks later, Roberta arranged a meeting with Elmer. Thanks to her Facebook video, over 13,000 people heard about Elmer’s good deed, and it piqued the interest of the news media.
When Elmer walked in the door, he was greeted with applause by a packed room. He was totally overwhelmed. This wasn’t what he expected when he agreed to meet! Crazier still, things were about to get even more surprising for him…
Roberta Hoskie / Facebook
First, Elmer was presented with a thank you certificate from Ms. Millionaire Mindset, an organization aimed at combating poverty. Next, Roberta laid out her true plan to “teach Elmer to fish.”
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Instead of just paying him for his kindness and honesty, Roberta was going to teach him how to set himself up for success. Elmer was going to be given classes at her real estate school, at no cost to him.
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Before classes started, Elmer would be taught to improve his English skills. But Roberta had another even bigger surprise. Emotion strained her voice while she explained the best part of her plan.
Roberta told him she’d found him a place to live, an apartment he could share with his girlfriend, with the first 6 months of rent and bills completely covered in full!
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Emotions spilled over. Elmer wrapped Roberta in a hug that said everything he couldn’t. Tears streaked his face, and the relief that he wouldn’t face another night on the streets washed over him.
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But Roberta thought of everything, even beyond the 6-month gift. After taking the real estate classes, Elmer was set up with a standing job interview at her colleague’s real estate office.
Once he felt prepared, he could tackle the interview. So thrilled with gratitude, he burst out, “I’m ready now!” But granting all Elmer’s dreams wasn’t Roberta’s goal. She wanted to truly pay it forward…
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So, a few weeks later, they met up to see how he was progressing with his real estate classes. With her followers watching live, it was Elmer’s turn to deliver some good news.
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Waiting to reveal the results of his real estate exam together, Roberta flipped the cover and beamed. Elmer had passed the test! Now just one test remained between him and an endless path of opportunity.
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Public interest in Elmer and Roberta’s inspirational friendship continued to grow. In December, Spanish language television station Telemundo invited the duo on a show to share their unique story.
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Elmer revealed that the catalyst was the sudden death of his 33-year-old brother. Tortured by grief, Elmer fell into a life addiction and crime. All in all, he served 5 stints in jail, and in turn, lost contact with the rest of his family…
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…Until the host told him to turn around. Standing on the stage were Elmer’s two sisters! Viewers watched live as the family rejoiced in their emotional reunion. Roberta, who had been communicating via a translator, wept!
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Right when his heart rate stabilized from the big reveal, there came another jolt. After years of not seeing each other, Elmer’s mother walked out on to the stage. It was all too much for everyone’s tear ducts.
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Elmer’s simple choice to do the right thing put a set of wheels into motion. A slew of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities presented themselves to Elmer, and Roberta fulfilled her mission to help end the cycle of poverty.
Roberta Hoskie / Instagram
In a few months’ time, Elmer aced his final real estate exam and Roberta put him on the Board of Directors of her company. Motivated, determined not to squander his gifts, Elmer joined the ranks of the National Association of Realtors.
Friends joined by a bizarre twist of fate, Roberta and Elmer focused their energies on a project — with their non-profit, Outreach Foundation — to help other homeless individuals.
Their goal was to acquire dilapidated properties and flip them into transitional homes that offer services beyond the average shelter for the homeless. It would grant people the same shot Elmer was given.
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