No. 4 story of 2012: Roanoke shop owner fixes bullied Radford University's car, goes on "Ellen"

We're counting down the top 7 stories of the year. Coming in at number 4: the story of a Roanoke shop owner who completely restored the car of a bullied Radford University student for free after vandals damaged it.

But what started out as an act of kindness, made national headlines.

Richard Henegar Jr. manages Quality Auto Paint and Body. He along with 10 local business donated over 100 hours and $10,000 to fix Jordan Addison's car in August. For them it was worth it to see Jordan's reaction.

"Once I saw the vandalism that was done to it I said that's uncalled for.  We're gonna fix your car that's the least we can do."

Jordan Addison, who received the car, said: "It looks great, it hasn't looked that great the entire time I've had it. More than I ever could have thought."

His car was vandalized four times--he believes he was targeted because he's gay.

"The first time there were homophobic slurs keyed into the side of it.  Then the second time it had ‘die’ keyed into it," Addison said.

They say no good deed goes unpunished, but for Henegar it was the complete opposite. The story, exclusively heard on WDBJ7, went viral.

"I didn't really think it would make that kind of impact you know emotionally for this kid and for so many people," Henegar said.

Within days the story caught the attention of people as far away as Holland and as famous as Ellen Degeneres.

"A simple act of kindness can make your whole world change.  When we heard this story we knew we had to have it on our premiere show," Ellen said.

"Oh my God it was fantastic, I felt like a real celebrity the whole time," Addison said of his appearance on “Ellen.”

Degeneres gave both Addison and Henegar $25,000, compliments of Cover Girl. 

She also made a commercial for the auto shop for your Hometown News Leader.

The story has led to the creation of Operation Pay It Forward -- where Henegar and his crew repair cars for deserving people in the area.