View the Pass it On 'Good Manners' commercial about helping strangers

Crosswalk

In this delightful twist on a classic theme of helping an old lady across the street we find a hip teenager absorbed in his music with his buddies at a busy crosswalk. Without warning, a silver-haired octogenarian suddenly jolts him out of his world by asking him an unexpected question. We all enjoy a timely lesson in manners while the song, Hold my Hand accents this charming moment. Good MannersPass Them On.

This message playfully portrays the classic scene of helping an elderly lady across the street. In a plot twist that both teaches Good Manners to our young hero and all of us in the viewing audience we see that values are sometimes best communicated with humor.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Old Lady: May I walk you across the street?
Boy: Yeah, thanks.
ANNCR/SUPER: Good Manners, Pass Them On. A message from The Foundation for a Better Life.

Good Manners. Pass It On!

Pass It On®

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Your Comments

Cindy P from Clovis,Ca JULY 21, 2020
I LOVE, love, LOVE this!! We are so involved in our own bubbles, we often forget to observe details and people around us! I think the world, the US in particular, is often blind to the ageism that is hidden and tolerated as normal by many. Seniors are revered in other societies. Yet, we often show images of incontinent or impotent elderly without showing all they have to offer, including possibly a clever sense of humor in addressing problems as this video does. Seniors have seen it all and often done it all, too! Teens and seniors have the potential to transform the world if they united forces and were open to learning from one another!

Michelle from Everett, WA MAY 1, 2020
Oh my gosh! How adorable! May our Youth respect their Elders!😍

Mary from harrisburg PA OCTOBER 2, 2017
i needed a lesson to show my boss for inspiration. you helped, thank you!

silva from Brasil DECEMBER 10, 2015
♥♥♥

Emily NOVEMBER 15, 2015
Good manners

Anonymous NOVEMBER 15, 2015
that boy was very polite

Sherry Barr from Farragut HIgh School SEPTEMBER 2, 2014
I use the videos in my class when I teach values, conflict, friendship and other topics on Human Development. My students learn from the clips and like them. Thank you. They are a great way to begin a lesson or sum up a lesson.

Abigail Watson from OR MARCH 9, 2014
I like this commercial, as it's very inspiring, as well as very well-done, too. :) I especially like how the boy thanked the elderly lady, and she replied, “You're welcome”, too. :)

Jeff from Salt Lake City FEBRUARY 18, 2014
Thats My Mom!!

Debra howard from Louisville, ky NOVEMBER 2, 2013
I am a school teacher with students who struggle with learning disabilities. This web site is very inspiring.

Sam V. from CA SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
I love this commercial, I also love the song in the background Hootie and The Blowfish is still awesome in my book

Dave Hamrick from North Carolina AUGUST 4, 2013
Your adds / commercials are awesome. Extremely uplifting and inspiring. "Pass it on". Thank you.

Christine from Illinois MAY 9, 2013
Perfect!

Pete from West Bloomfield MAY 2, 2013
Lissa: Your grandmother's commercial is very special and will have positive impact for many years. I am very sorry for your loss.... and on Christmas day....But thank you for sharing more of her story. It makes the commercial all the more special and personal. :-)

Abigail from United States of America APRIL 16, 2013
I like it. Very awesome, as well as very well-done, too. Also, the song Hold My Hand by Hootie and the Blowfish, which is one of my favorite songs to listen to, really helps to bring it all together as well. :)

Dania from Miami FEBRUARY 6, 2013
Dear Lissa and Reb I'am so sorry for your loss... Your beloved left us with a great gesture. I love her and I didnt know her. It's a great commercial. God bless you.

lissa from utah JANUARY 23, 2013
The elderly lady in this commercial is my precious grandmother, who passed away this christmas day at 94 years of age! She is and always was a Lady. She loved doing this commercial

Nancy Carter Apolonio from Ogden, Utah JANUARY 23, 2013
I love this commercial. I have a grandson just like this one, he opens and closes my car door for me.

Reb Fleming from Moab, Utah JANUARY 23, 2013
The precious woman you see on this spot is my beloved mother, Ruthie. She passed away one month ago, on Christmas day, 2013. I play this over and over and over just to hear the sound of her voice. She wasn't an "actor" ... the kindness she radiates here was how she lived every moment of her life.

valentina from U.S.A NOVEMBER 3, 2012
Good manners are a set of behaviors.

Ardeth Bey from USA OCTOBER 24, 2012
After seeing this commercial, I had to do fifty laps around a slow moving transport before the adrenalin was swept from my bloodstream!!!

Debbie from Largo AUGUST 26, 2012
Absolutely Fabulous Commercial. I love how they are bringing the 2 generations together, working as a team. I wish there was more of these!!

Sean from Queens Ny AUGUST 25, 2012
I saw this on tv and had to look it up. Great video nice impact for short clip! I just showed my wife. Shows manners as cool for kids. Great idea.

Danielle from North Dakota AUGUST 16, 2012
This was the first video I saw of these. I couldn't stop smiling. :)

CMM from Sells JUNE 26, 2012
I love this commercial. When I first saw it, I was like awww. It makes you think.

SYDNEY SMITH from TX COLLEYVILLE MAY 2, 2012
Wow THAT IS CUTE. NICE OF THAT BOY. :)

SYDNEY SMITH from TX COLLEYVILLE MAY 2, 2012
WOW!!!!!!!

Sarah from Connecticut APRIL 11, 2012
Awww I want an old lady to walk me across the street. That was really sweet of her to do that. Usually its the other way around.

Joan from Billings, MT APRIL 10, 2012
Seeing how the skateboarder's face turned from surprise into a warm smile helped my heart feel better. We need to help one another overcome the many fears that surround our hearts in this hectic day and age.

jay from canada NOVEMBER 30, 2011
What's the name of that song?

bianca from canada AUGUST 27, 2011
love this:)

Stephanie from Idaho APRIL 7, 2011
Old ladies can be very sweet. I love helping others even if it has to do with crossing the streets. I loved this video, it's one of my favorites!

Alice M. from Washington State FEBRUARY 17, 2011
I love this ad and many more of them. It would be much nicer if everyone would refer to the neat lady as "elderly" instead of "old". She is very "with it" and young at heart and spirit!!

Blake from UT FEBRUARY 1, 2011
It is a great video

M from Georgia JANUARY 10, 2011
Cute. The young man is really walking the old lady across the street - she flips the script. Lesson 2: All teenagers aren't bad

sabrina p from victorville,ca JANUARY 7, 2011
That was really sweet and responsible and so kind.

phyllis l. from sacramento SEPTEMBER 8, 2010
Stand tall

Sarah from Colorado JULY 23, 2010
The skater and the grandmother are not related, but nonetheless, have great interactive chemistry.

Linda C. from Florida JULY 20, 2010
Does anyone know or is there someone I could ask about this commercial - is the young skate board boy related to the grandmother? They do look alike, and could be grandson and grandmother.

Ryan P. from Illinois APRIL 5, 2010
All of these ads are inspiring and brought a smile to my face. They show to enjoy the characteristics a person can have and what they can do to make a difference. So don't take the small things for granite, they are bigger than you think!

Anuj B. from INDIA FEBRUARY 11, 2010
It feels really good to know the whims that are around us and keep me moving.

Georgia D. from Missouri JANUARY 24, 2010
Thank you so much for producing and providing all of these uplifting and inspiring "commercials". They are words to live by!

Emily H. from North Dakota JANUARY 15, 2010
I really like this one, I think it is sweet.

Joe from CT NOVEMBER 29, 2009
Awesome stuff. You're commercials are very touching and remind us that the little things we do can make a difference!

Elaine K from Pennsylvania NOVEMBER 22, 2009
These commercials are the greatest! The skateboarder and elderly lady is my favorite. What a great way to send a message!

Kristina Q from Philippines AUGUST 30, 2009
Beautiful. You have the most heartwarming and the best way of reminding us that we can do better. Keep up the good work!

Mary Rose M. from Mooresville, NC AUGUST 29, 2009
This is just precious! Definitely one of my favorites here!

Bev M. from Canada DECEMBER 28, 2008
I really love the simplicity with this spot, it always brings me a smile and a chuckle.

Marc M. from Bielefeld, Germany AUGUST 18, 2008
This is the greatest spot of all... I love it!!!

Ivy N. from San Jose, CA JUNE 18, 2008
This is my favorite commercial of all time.

A. D. M. from Canada MAY 1, 2008
The skateboarders I know are just like this. My brother is an amazing Graffiti artist, so for Mother's Day one year he showed her a video of him at the skate-park. The words "Happy Mother's Day" were fresh on the ramp. He never painted anywhere else but that park. I love how this shows there are people like him out there!

Melanie from Wapakoneta, Ohio APRIL 8, 2008
What a beautiful, inspiring, motivating commercial! Who are the GENIUS minds behind this work?

Mariah W. from Dallas, TX MARCH 26, 2008
Ha ha! I love how it was sort of a role reversal! I actually came to the site to see what it was all about, since I didn't understand it. Now, I get it a little bit! I think the lady needed help, and the young man didn't offer, and so the lady asks, "May I walk you across the street?" and the young man was acting like the lady would have, "Um, sure. No problem. Thanks!" "You're welcome!"

Ben M. from Colorado, USA MARCH 12, 2008
I believe the song is by Hootie and the Blowfish--"Hold My Hand." So great!

Tony R. from Virginia, USA MARCH 10, 2008
This is an amazing commercial. Can someone please tell me what the name of the song is that starts playing near the end?

Sara H. from Kingston, Washington USA JANUARY 19, 2008
I love this! I hope it inspires people!!!

Lady Samm from Toronto, Canada NOVEMBER 23, 2007
Before my first sip of coffee, this is my quiet time in the wee morning to paint a smile upon my heart, this one did it for me.

Sandra from Newburyport, Massachusetts USA NOVEMBER 2, 2007
Awesome...love Hootie moments!

Pat M. from Abingdon, Maryland USA OCTOBER 21, 2007
Just shows how easy it is to be "nice." Well done!

David H. from New City, New York USA OCTOBER 20, 2007
Really hits home for me as a skater from New York. Interesting concept well displayed with the little time given.

Roger "Doc" from Layton, Utah USA OCTOBER 20, 2007
Right on! I too am a skateboarder and Grandfather...I love how this spot connects skaters and our senior citizens in a positive light! Thanks for all you do, keep up the good work.

Matt H. from Perryville, Maryland USA OCTOBER 11, 2007
LOVE IT!

Collin S. from Califorina OCTOBER 2, 2007
Just made my day seeing this ad. :)

Dawn B. from St. Louis, Missouri, USA SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
This spot hit home with me on several levels. My son and his teen buds often get judged by their appearance but any of them would walk with the elderly lady across a street. A tv spot like this might prompt them to do it more readily. This is what television should be used for. Bravo.

Neil from Portugal AUGUST 29, 2007
This one REALLY brought a smile to my face...loved it!

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