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A Burger King employee who received more than $130,000 in donations in just four days in recognition of his 27 years at the fast-food chain thanked people for their generosity and said the money helps will allow his grandchildren to go to college.
Kevin Ford, 60, of Nevada, started working at the company as a single father to maintain custody of his first two children, his daughter Seryna explained.
Word of his dedication to his job at the Las Vegas Airport branch of the burger chain got around when viral video showed him being given a movie ticket, a bag of candy, a coffee mug, a lanyard and some pens as a thank you.
Kevin Ford, 60, has shared details of how he intends to use the money donated to him by well-wishers impressed by his 27 years of service at Burger King
GoFundMe has surpassed $130,000 in just four days, including a $5,000 donation from comedian David Spade
Those who watched the video felt that Ford deserved far more.
“I was grateful for everything. There are people I’ve worked with for 20 or 30 years and they didn’t get anything. I’m happy with everything,” Ford told NewsNationNow.
“I am grateful and happy. I’m just grateful that I got this,” he said, referring to the items he received. “There are people who work hard and didn’t get anything.
Speaking of the $130,000 in donations received from 4,000 people over the past few days, Ford was overcome with emotion.
“The generosity of these people is just overwhelming. I’ve been crying for three days now. I can not believe it. I really can’t,’ he said.
He said he couldn’t understand why 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 in whatever I’m doing,” Ford said.
Ford was overcome with emotion as he thanked people for their generosity. He said he would use the money to visit his grandchildren and pay for part of their college
Ford’s daughter explained how his family grew over the years, he stuck with his job and “kept working here because of the amazing health insurance.”
“My father continues to work here because although he looks young, he is approaching retirement age and leaving would cost him his retirement.
“We’re not asking for money in any way, nor does he expect money, but if anyone feels like blessing him, he’d be happy to visit his grandchildren.”
The amount of support amazed the family as fundraising has surpassed $133,000 since Tuesday.
“I’m here to get through dinner without crying! They are such remarkable people,” Seryna wrote in an update on Friday. “I really can’t believe it. You changed his life! Thanks very much! A thousand times THANK YOU!!!!’
One of the many donors is famed comedian David Spade, who donated $5,000 and had a private Instagram exchange with the BK employee.
Sweet: Just days after the fast-food worker named Kevin Ford went viral for a video thanking the company for his loyalty with a goodie bag, the 57-year-old comedian made a generous contribution to his GoFundMe
‘Keep it up. 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 said he couldn’t “believe” Spade’s kindness and was looking forward to using some of his paid time off.
‘MANY THANKS!!! For watching the video! I love you my brother!!! Much love and God bless… I think we can take a day off…” he told Spade.
Spade joked back that Ford should just “wait until year 30” to take some time off.
“Damn, are you one of my managers??? he answered. ‘Thank you again, sir… Have a nice day.’
Ford went viral earlier this week for posting a video praising Burger King for giving him a single movie ticket, a bag of Reese’s Pieces, a Starbucks mug, some life preservers, a lanyard, two pens and a couple of keychains for his hard work at the company.
David Spade surprised a hard-working Burger King employee who hasn’t been absent from work for nearly three decades
Top Donors: In addition to Spade’s donation, more than 1,400 people came together to raise $79,000 for the viral Burger King employee
In the footage, he graciously said that “loyalty pays.”
However, many Twitter users were shocked that the company didn’t do more for him.
“Is that all you could do for this man?” one viewer tweeted, while another called Ford’s video “depressing” and “embarrassing” for the brand.
Others suggested he deserved an entire franchise or an “all expenses paid trip.”
In an Instagram exchange, Spade joked back that Ford should just “wait until year 30” to take some time off
