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A Burger King employee who has received more than $125,000 in donations 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.
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.
Kevin Ford, 60, has shared details on how he intends to use the money donated to him by well-wishers impressed at his 27 years of service at Burger King
The GoFundMe has surpassed $120,000 in just four days, including a $5,000 donation from comedian David Spade
Those watching the video felt that Ford deserved far more.
‘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 $126,000 donations received from 3,800 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.
Ford was overcome with emotion as he thanked people for their generosity. He said that he would be using the money to visit his grandkids and to help pay for some of their college
Ford’s daughter explained how as his family grew over the years he stayed at his job and ‘continued to work here because of the amazing health insurance.’
‘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.
‘In no way are we asking for money or is he expecting any money but if anyone feels like blessing him he would love to visit his grandchildren.’
The outpouring of support astonished the family, with the fundraising now surpassing $125,000 since Tuesday.
‘I’m here tying to get through dinner without crying! You are such remarkable people,’ Seryna wrote in an update on Friday. ‘I seriously can’t believe this. Y’all are changing his life! Thank y’all! A million times over, THANK YOU!!!!’
One of the many donors includes celebrity comedian David Spade, who donated $5,000 and had a private Instagram exchange with the BK worker.
Sweet: Just a few days after the fast food worker, named Kevin Ford, went viral for a video thanking the company for a goodie bag for his loyalty, the 57-year-old comedian made a generous contribution to his GoFundMe
‘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.
‘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.’
Ford went viral earlier this week for posting a video praising Burger King for gifting him a single movie ticket, bag of Reese’s Pieces, a Starbucks cup, some Lifesavers, a lanyard, two pens, and a few keychains for his hard work at the company.
David Spade surprised a hardworking Burger King employee, who has not missed work in nearly three decades
Top donor: 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 off.’
Many Twitter users, however, were shocked that the company didn’t do more for him.
‘This is all y’all 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 expense paid trip.’
In an Instagram exchange, Spade joked back that Ford should just ‘wait till year 30’ to take any time off
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