Ellen Degeneres proved that it pays to be generous when she gave $10,000 to a waitress for a good deed.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Sarah Hoidahl, a waitress at Ruby Tuesday, picked up the tab for two National Guard soldiers. Hoidahl had heard the two women discussing the government shutdown and how they were not receiving pay checks.
That’s when the 22-year-old waitress took matters into her own hands and decided to pay it forward. E! Online reports that Hoidahl paid the $27.75 check and left a note that said, “Thanks to the government shutdown the people like you that protect this country are not getting paid, however I still am. Lunch is on me thank you for serving ladies! Have a good day!”
The single mother left her shift that day with an $8.00 paycheck. Little did she know, her act of kindness was about to pay off big time.
The two National Guard soldiers posted the note on Facebook where it quickly gained attention. The viral note even got noticed by Degeneres, who decided to reciprocate the New Hampshire waitress’s act of kindness.
The talk show host invited Hoidahl to her show where she jokingly gave her $27.75 out of a large handbag. The comedian then took things to another level when she gifted Hoidahl with a 50-inch television and a check for $10,000.
Check out the clip below!
Image courtesy of Warner Brothers.