Burger King worker, 60, who received a goody bag after 27 years of service without missing a shift, has more than $150,000 raised for him in a GoFundMe campaign. He went viral on TikTok after sharing a video of his gift bag. He says he'll pay for his grandkids to go to college with this money.
Loyal Burger King Employee's GoFundMe Surpasses $150k After Video Shows Him Getting 'Goody Bag' As Reward For 27 Years Of Service
By
Zainab Pervez in
Feel Good
On 27th June 2022
advertisement
A Burger King employee who has received more than $157,000 in donations through GoFundMe in just four days in recognition of his 27 years of service at the fast-food chain has thanked people for their generosity and said that the money will help pay for his grandchildren to go to college. Kevin Ford, 60, from Nevada, started working at the company as a single father to gain custody of his first two children, his daughter Seryna explained.
advertisement
Word spread of his dedication to his job at the Las Vegas Airport branch of the burger chain when a viral video showed him being gifted a movie ticket, a bag of candy, a coffee tumbler, lanyard and some pens as a thankyou gift, despite Ford's 27 years of loyal service and considering the fact he's never called in sick.
advertisement
Although Ford did voice his gratitude for the gift, he did admit that he felt that he had been given a bag of things "they had lying around." Those watching the video felt that Ford deserved far more.
His daughter, Seryna, created a GoFundMe page following the huge reaction on social media. She wrote, "My dad continues to work here, because though he does look young, he is coming up on retirement age and leaving would cost him his retirement."
'I was grateful for anything. There's people I have worked with for 20 or 30 years and they didn't get anything. I am happy with anything,' Ford told NewsNationNow.
'I am grateful and happy. I am just thankful that I got that,' he said referring to the items he received. 'There are people working hard and they didn't get anything.
Speaking of the now $157,000 donations received from 4,700 people in recent days, Ford was overcome with emotion.
'The generosity of these people is just overwhelming. I've been crying for three days now. I can't believe it. I really can't,' he said.
He said that he was unable to explain how he had never missed a shift in his 27 years of work.
'I don't know myself. I don't know how i did that! Maybe I'm a robot? I just never thought about taking a day off. I just try to work as hard as I can, whatever I do,' Ford said.
Even actor and comedian David Spade was touched by Ford's story, and donated $5,000 to the cause. He had a private Instagram exchange with the BK worker.
'Keep up the good work. 27 years,' Spade wrote to Ford.
In response, according to a screenshot of their exchange obtained by TMZ, Ford replied: 'Holy s**t dude [three shocked face emojis].'
The Burger King employee also expressed he couldn't 'believe' Spade's kindness and was looking forward to using some of his paid time off.
advertisement
'THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! For even watching the video! I love you my brother!!! Much love and God Bless... I think might be able to take a day off...' he told Spade.
Spade joked back that Ford should just 'wait till year 30' to take any time off.
'D**n, are you one of my managers??? he replied. 'Thank you again, Sir... Have a great day.'
And when asked about what he plans to do with the substation amount of money raised for him, Ford revealed: "I'm going to visit my daughter, of course, and see my grandkids." He also said that he plans to use the money to set up college funds for his grandchildren.