The Burger King employee whose 27 years of service inspired donors to donate more than $200,000 to a GoFundMe page set up on his behalf to visit his family is surprised on Tuesday when the ‘Today’ show flies his daughter and children to the set.
Kevin Ford, 54, became an Instagram celebrity after posting a video thanking his employer for a gift bag he received in recognition of nearly 30 years of work without missing a single day.
He said he was overwhelmed by the generosity, including from former Saturday Night Live star David Spade, and that he can now contribute to his grandchildren’s college fund as well as take a well-deserved vacation.
He appeared on “Today” with Savannah Guthrie when news of his success and labor of love spread.
‘It’s like a dream, a dream come true, that nobody can think of this. It’s just overwhelming,’ he said on the TV show. ‘Especially all of the support I’m receiving every day. It’s awesome.’
Ford shot to fame after a viral video showed him receiving a movie ticket, a bag of candy, a coffee tumbler, a lanyard, and some pens as a thank-you gift for his years of service to the burger franchise at the Las Vegas airport.
‘I’m grateful for everything. I’m grateful for every day I wake up, that I can go to work, that I can be a good citizen, be a good American, and just, you know, do my part. I’m just grateful for everything I get,’ he told the morning TV host.
His daughter Seryna created a GoFundMe page in the hopes of raising enough money for the devoutly single father to travel to Texas to see her and her kids.
However, the “Today” show flew them in to the studio so that they could be reunited, so none of the $200,000 raised was required.
‘I haven’t see you guys in so long,’ he said tearfully as he embracing the children.
His daughter said that she’s over the moon about the response her GoFundMe page received.
‘My dad deserves the world, to me, in my opinion,’ Serya said on the show. ‘My dad gave me the world. My dad made me the person that I am, so, I love my dad more than I can ever put into words.’
The only twist to his appearance the morning TV show is that he had to miss work to be there.
Another huge thrill, beside the huge sum of money donated to him, was the attention he got from the Spade.
‘When David Spade sent me money, let alone watched my video, I was blown away,’ Ford said.
He said that at first he didn’t believe it was Spade, who ponied up $5,000 to the crowd-funding website, but after the two exchanged messages, he realized it really was the star.
‘It was just incredible. He joked with me. It just touched him. What a great guy.’
Ford told the actor that now that he has a little financial cushion he can finally take a vacation.
Spade joked that he should wait until he hits the 30-year mark, according to a screenshot of their exchange obtained by TMZ.
‘Damn, are you one of my managers?’ Ford shot back.
The fast-food worker said he intends to put some of the money toward his grandchildren’s college fund and donate to the church.
‘I want to share the love with my grandkids, maybe put some up for their college,’ he said.
Ford has been on an emotional rollercoaster ride since hearing about the money.
‘I haven’t stopped crying for four days, and they’re tears of joy. I’m in love with America. There is nothing wrong with America. There’s nothing wrong with the world.
People asked him how he was able to work for nearly three decades without missing a day on the job.
‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Maybe I’m a Black robot. I just wanted to feed my kids and pay bills. I’m just an American. I wanted to provide for my family.’
Ford offered some words of encouragement for others who are struggling financially.
‘Anybody who wants anything at life has to work at it,’ he said. ‘Whenever you need motivation and inspiration, look in yourself and then look at the people that you have to provide for. You are always stronger than you think you are.’
In addition to putting in 30 years for Burger King, Ford also words for DoorDash, the food-app delivery company, after his fast food shift is over. He said he shuttles deliveries for eight to 12 hours, sometimes knocking off in the early morning.
‘Hopefully, now I have some for retirement. Before this, uh-uh, I was living check to check.’
Seryna, set up the GoFundMe page, explaining how, as his family grew over the years, he stayed at his job and ‘continued to work here because of the amazing health insurance.’
She said that he took the job after gaining custody of her and her older sister as a single father.
‘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. She credited his union with securing the benefits for her dad.
‘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,’ she wrote on the donation page.
In the footage, he graciously said that ‘loyalty pays off.’
Many Twitter users, however, were shocked the company didn’t do more for him.
‘This is all y’all could do for this man?’ one viewer tweeted. Another called Ford’s video ‘depressing’ and ’embarrassing’ for the brand.
Others suggested he deserved an entire franchise or an ‘all expense paid trip.’