Stop your doom-scrolling. It's time for something heartwarming.
Audrey Soape is an eleven-year-old girl from Texas with strawberry blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes and a big bright smile. You wouldn't know it by looking at her, but Audrey's had a pretty rough year—unexpectedly losing both her father and grandfather.
Anthony Harris is a thirty-year-old NFL player who got his start in Virginia and is currently the safety for the Philadelphia Eagles.
At first glance, these two don't seem to have much in common—aside from flowing hair and disarming smiles—but the unusual pair were brought together by two of the strongest forces of our time—a mother's love and the power of the internet.
When Audrey's school announced a daddy-daughter dance, Audrey's mom, Holly, knew this was going to be a pain point for her little girl. Having just lost the men in her life, Audrey was a Daughter with no Daddy or Grandpa to take her.
So Holly threw a proverbial Hail Mary for her daughter.
Using social media, she reached out to one of the other long-standing influential men in Audrey's life—Philadelphia Eagles Player Anthony Harris. The family had been fans of Harris' for years, following his career and often sending encouraging comments his way.
Holly told outlets she knew her request was likely to go nowhere.:
"It's kind of far-fetched...it's a big ask. I just asked if he would come, if he'd be willing to come. And he said, 'not only will I come, I want to make sure she feels like a princess.' "
But her Hail Mary play worked!
Harris, moved by the story and the family's constant kindness, agreed to take Audrey to her daddy-daughter dance.
He then he proceeded to do so much more than that.
Not only did he fly in and get dressed up for her dance, he kept his word to make sure she felt like a princess. Harris paid for a fancy dress, a glam squad to do her hair and makeup, shoes, a hired car and driver to pick her up and a photographer to capture it all.
He also made sure to stop in and visit Audrey's brother, Jackson, who was thrilled to know he wasn't forgotten in all of this.
"It made me feel really happy and feel special because he didn't only come over just to go to the 'Daddy-Daughter Dance' with Audrey, he came over to see me, too."
Audrey didn't know her mother was going to reach out.
In fact, she only found out about things a week before the dance—which, according to her, added to the nerves. She told media outlets that she spent the week leading up to the dance feeling nervous—but not necessarily about meeting one of her childhood heroes.
She had a whole other concern.
"I was kind of worried all week that I was going to mess up dancing."
NBC Philadelphia 10 covered the story, sharing some special moments of the evening.
This heartwarming story about kindness and compassion hit Twitter right in the feels.
@Eagles #Anthony Harris\nLove you! My name is Audrey too. It was too cute. The smiles on her face was precious. The smile on yours was, beautiful.\nRight now I am rooting with Stafford and the Rams, as I am a Michigander. \nBest wishes for you and your team innthe future.— Audrey Denise (@Audrey Denise) 1644522784
With the world gone crazy, this story helps restore faith in humanity. \n\nEagles\u2019 Anthony Harris takes Texas girl whose father died to daddy-daughter dancehttps://www.wftv.com/news/trending/eagles-anthony-harris-takes-texas-girl-whose-father-died-daddy-daughter-dance/FA7GUYA5VZEJJJHBCMCPUDIAPI/\u00a0\u2026— Brad Latzke (@Brad Latzke) 1644547438
Okay. What!!! I'm going to cry. It's just a lovely lovely kindness during a really hard time. We need this light right now. Wow. I'm a fan and I don't watch sports. This goes beyond the game for sure. #PhiladelphiaEagles #AnthonyHarris @NFL These gestures mean everything.https://twitter.com/michaelart123/status/1491888646835818499\u00a0\u2026— MillennialPink \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83c\udf0a (@MillennialPink \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83c\udf0a) 1644549908
Not really a fan of the Eagles but big fan of #AnthonyHarris now. I lost my father in my 20s and I thought I was young, I can't imagine losing a father and having to grieve and cope at 11. Anthony is the definition of class.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1491887078245908488\u00a0\u2026— Priti Kothari (@Priti Kothari) 1644549946
Philadelphia Eagles Safety, ANTHONY HARRIS took an 11 year old middle schooler, a Father/Daughter dance after the death of her Dad. \n\nWoW! Anthony, way to go. Such generosity, class, compassion, empathy. There should be more men like you!— Melissa White (@Melissa White) 1644573559
Kudos to Anthony Harris rich famous and not entitled spending his time being an empathic human being pic.twitter.com/Sx1x9zVOqg— Respect Life \ud83c\udf0e\u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udcaf\ud83d\ude37 #BLM (@Respect Life \ud83c\udf0e\u2764\ufe0f\ud83d\udcaf\ud83d\ude37 #BLM) 1644539446
Anthony Harris just made me cry happy tears. What a fine young man. Much love to his mom for raising him well, much love to Anthony for being himself. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/02/10/father-daughter-nfl-anthony-harris/\u00a0\u2026— Nancy G. Smith (@Nancy G. Smith) 1644534620
This is among the most beautiful stories I've ever read. The @NFL @Eagles's Anthony Harris has a heart of gold.https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1491887078245908488\u00a0\u2026— Abigail Marsh (@Abigail Marsh) 1644530186
We need more Anthony Harris\u2019shttps://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/1491887078245908488\u00a0\u2026— ConcernedCitizen (@ConcernedCitizen) 1644583183
The audacity to be kind in a hateful world.... well done sir!!!https://twitter.com/RexChapman/status/1490370511209218048\u00a0\u2026— Big Kuntry Kuz (@Big Kuntry Kuz) 1644248118
As for Harris, he has taken a humble stance on things and doesn't see himself as a hero.
"I'm just trying to be, you know, a human - trying to take off the helmet, trying to take off the cape of what I do professionally and show some sympathy for that family; try to show some support there."
Harris and the family are encouraging people to cherish the little things and enjoy time with those they love.
