Apartment manager gets big surprise for her kindness and generosity toward her tenants

October 9, 2012

At Palm Terrace Apartments, tenants aren't a number. They're a name.

Elvira Cortez is the apartment manager who treats her tenants like her family. She knows all 140 tenants by name including their children. If a child is sick or innjured, she holds a fundraiser. If someone needs a ride, she gets behind the wheel. She even helps them with money form her own pocket when they can't afford their rent.

The tenants wanted to return the favor and called the local news station who runs a program called 'Pay it 4ward'. The news team surprised her at the apartment complex with $400 cash for her kindness to others.

Irasema Valadez is one of the tenants who contacted the 'Pay it 4ward' program.

"I want to thank you for everything you've done for me and for everybody," Irasema said.  "I just think now it's time to say thank you to you.  And even though sometimes we really don't tell you how we feel, I just want you to know that we appreciate you.  On behalf of FNB Insurance Agency and Action 4 News, I want to Pay it 4Ward."

Elvira credits her kindness to her father's work as a minister, as well as her sister who helped raise her and also beat breast cancer.

"I get the courage from her," she explained.  "She's a breast cancer survivor.  And she's the reason that we're here.  Otherwise we wouldn't be here right now."

Watch the video surprise below.