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Trump surprises volunteer with $10,000 check night before inauguration
Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images

Trump surprises volunteer with $10,000 check night before inauguration

He was a volunteer for President-elect Donald Trump's campaign, and his efforts are paying off in more ways than one.

Shane Bouvet, a 24-year-old, part-time FedEx courier, was the subject earlier this week of a Washington Post profile, and when Trump ran across the article, he decided to meet the young man, who worked in the evenings and volunteered for the billionaire businessman during the day.

Wearing shoes and a suit donated by a fellow Stonington, Illinois, native, Bouvet found himself in an unlikely place: an inaugural ball with the president-elect the night before he is sworn-in, according to the Post.

"Hey, Donald Trump," Bouvet said casually.

Trump replied, "This is the greatest guy."

After making his way through several layers of Secret Service, Bouvet ended up hanging out with the president-elect, soon-to-be first lady Melania Trump, incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus and senior White House adviser Steve Bannon.

As Trump signed an autograph for the committed volunteer, Bouvet decided to call his dad to share the momentous occasion.

"Hey, Dad," Bouvet said, using the speakerphone. "I’m with Donald Trump."

"Hey, Don, you have a great name," Bouvet's father, also named Donald, told Trump.

The incoming president replied, "You have a good boy."

Trump, signing an autograph for Bouvet's 4-year-old son, asked the young father if he is still with the mother. When Bouvet said no, the thrice-married president-elect said, "It happens," before predicting they would get back together because of the autographs he offered: "After that, she’ll have you back. You’ll be a great celebrity."

But it was what happened next that was most surprising. At the end of the encounter, Trump patted the cash-strapped Bouvet on the back and looked to his staff, asking them to cut him a $10,000 check.

"Did that just happen?" the longtime volunteer asked out loud. Before he could express his thanks, Bouvet, with tears welling up in his eyes, said goodbye as he was ushered out of Trump's tent.

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