The Burger King worker whose 27 years of service to his employer inspired donors to give more than $200,000 to a GoFundMe page set up on his behalf to visit his family is surprised as the ‘Today’ show flies his daughter and children to the set on Tuesday.
Kevin Ford, 54, became an overnight star on after he posted 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 stunned by the outpouring of generosity – including from former Saturday Night Live star David Spade – and can now contribute to his grandchildren’s college fund as well as take a well-earned holiday.
He appeared on ‘Today’ with Savannah Guthrie after word spread about his hard work and good fortune.
‘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.’
A GoFundMe page set up to reunite fast-food worker Kevin Ford (center) with his grandkids wasn’t necessary because the ‘Today’ show flew them in
Kevin Ford hugs his daughter, Seryna, who set up the GoFundMe page on his behalf
Kevin Ford appears on ‘Today’ after he was recognized for working 27 years at a Las Vegas airport Burger King without missing a shift
Kevin Ford, 54, received $200,000 from a GoFundMe page set up to help the hardworking grandfather fly to Texas to see his grandchildren
Ford encouraged everyone to work hard and believe in themselves, crediting that philosophy with helping him get through 27 years at Burger King without missing a shift
Hardworking Burger King employee Kevin Ford, right, and his daughter Seryna, who help rocket her father fame
Ford was thrust into the spotlight after a viral video showed him being given a movie ticket, a bag of candy, a coffee tumbler, lanyard and some pens as a thank-you gift for his years of dedication 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 set up a GoFundMe page to contribute to the hardworking single dad in hope that she could raise enough money for him to visit her and her children in Texas.
But none of that $200,000 raised was necessary because the ‘Today’ show flew them in to the studio so that they could be reunited.
‘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.
David Spade surprised a hardworking Burger King employee, who has not missed work in nearly three decades, with $5,000
‘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.’
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
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 s
