Justin Timberlake surprises disabled Tennessee teen with a $35,000 wheelchair-accessible van – as family are brought to tears by the pop star’s life-changing gift
- Jake Stitt, 17, has cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair; his family do not own a vehicle capable of transporting him around town
- Pop star Justin Timberlake heard about the family’s plight and decided to step in
- On Wednesday, he gifted the Stitt clan with a $35,000 wheelchair accessible van
- News crews were on the scene to capture the family’s excitement as they received the life-changing present from the pop star
Justin Timberlake has gifted a $35,000 wheelchair accessible van to a disabled Tennessee teen.
Jake Stitt, 17, was left overwhelmed by the pop star’s present, which arrived in the driveway of his Morristown home on Wednesday with a big red bow on the bonnet.
Stitt has cerebral palsy, and his parents did not have a vehicle that was able to transport him around town.
The teen has become somewhat of a local celebrity in recent years, known for sitting outside his family home surrounded by signs reading ‘Honk if you’re happy’.
Locals decided to raise money for the Stitt clan so that they could purchase a van to drive the teenager around – before Timberlake heard about the fundraiser and decided to step in.
Justin Timberlake has gifted a $35,000 wheelchair accessible van to a disabled Tennessee teen
Jake Stitt, 17, was left overwhelmed by the pop star’s present, which arrived in the driveway of his Morristown home on Wednesday with a big red bow on the bonnet
News crews were on hand to capture Stitt’s excitement as the vehicle pulled up at his home
The Senorita singer – who hails from Tennessee – called the Stitt clan on Wednesday afternoon, and told them that a surprise was set to arrive outside their home at any minute.
Sure enough, a big black van arrived in the driveway, surrounded by a police escort and a swarm of local news crews.
The outlets captured Stitt’s ecstatic reaction as he marveled over the vehicle.
The teen could hardly keep the smile off his face as he was hoisted into the van, ready to set off on an adventure.
Stitt good hardly keep the smile off his face as the van pulled in to the driveway
The teen could hardly keep the smile off his face as he was hoisted into the van, ready to set off on an adventure.
Stitt’s overwhelmed father, Tim, thanked Timberlake for the life-changing gift.
‘It’s going to make his life much easier as we go into our future and it’s going to make my life a lot easier because there’s not many people that can lift him up and sit him in a van like he needs,’ Tim Stitt told WRKN.
‘It’s going to make our lives so much easier because of the independence he’s going to have as a young man now.’
He also said it was a privilege to be in touch with Timberlake, and to speak with him about his son over Zoom.
‘He caught the story and he wanted to reach out and decided that he wanted to purchase the van for Jacob and his needs,’ Tim Stitt stated.
‘It was just a very blessing to be able to speak to that gentleman and for him to be able to meet Jake [via Zoom] and see what he needed.’
Stitt has become somewhat of a local celebrity in recent years, known for sitting outside his family home surrounded by signs reading ‘Honk if you’re happy’
Dad Tim Stitt is pictured with 17-year-old son Jake. The father has thanked Justin Timberlake for his life-changing gift