(NewsNation) — After an air traffic controller told panelists at a NewsNation town hall that he turned to DoorDash to make ends meet during the government shutdown, the company surprised him with a gift to ease his burden.
DoorDash is giving Jack Criss $10,000, the company confirmed to NewsNation. Criss said the money would go toward paying his daughter’s school tuition. NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo said he would cover any remaining balance.
Jack Criss was surprised with the news live on air and thanked Cuomo and DoorDash, saying his colleagues in air traffic control towers are all working hard as they wait for the shutdown to end.
“I’m really proud of him,” Criss’ daughter Jaci, a nationally ranked basketball player, told “CUOMO” on Thursday.
In addition to Cuomo, the town hall panel was composed of Stephen A. Smith, Bill O’Reilly and three House representatives. Criss asked a question from the audience and explained his situation. Smith said he was upset Criss wasn’t being paid while the panelists onstage were, before standing up and leaving in disgust.
“I had no clue that people would receive that in that manner,” Criss said of the now-viral moment. “It’s unfortunate that Congress can’t ensure we don’t have to do extraneous work to make ends meet.”
“DoorDash provides a way for millions of Dashers like Jack to earn additional income on their own schedule,” DoorDash said in a statement. “We are proud that our platform has been a resource for him and his family.”
Criss told Cuomo he’s a big fan of the show and its mission to bring right and left together.
“Separating the fringes and putting them up there together and making them talk to one another, that’s powerful,” Criss said.