He has never missed working at Burger King for 27 years. Now received 290 thousand euros
To make up for it, the company offered Kevin Ford a backpack with trinkets. Enraged, thousands of strangers gave him a real bounty.
A Burger King employee became famous around the world after revealing that he had not missed a single day of work in 27 years. In contrast, Kevin Ford received more than €290,000 in donations – but only a year after a video of you was posted on social media.
The 55-year-old American RHe works for HMSHost, a food service company that provides services to Burger King, located at Las Vegas International Airport, in the United States. To thank him for his perfect work, the bosses offer him a backpack with a movie ticket, a Starbucks cup, sweets and chocolates.
The video of him accepting the gift and thanking his colleagues quickly went viral. However, many viewers were disgusted by the company’s frivolous display after so many years of loyalty and attendance.
Speaking to TMZ, an American entertainment website, Ford said he was grateful for the gift, but it looked like “things that were lying around.” “I’m happy with anything. I’m not that kind of person, believe me. I’ve been through a lot.”
He added, “It’s a great company. I’ve been there for 27 years. But, like most large companies, they have lost touch with their employees. Because of ambition and all, they’re starting to cut back on offers.”
Kevin also said that employees were receiving checks after 20 years of service, and he thought that was what a movie ticket was. “I was like, ‘Hey, they finally give it to me.'” That’s when I realized it wasn’t even my movie ticket — it was just one.”
At that time, it was Kevin’s daughters set up a GoFundMe page for their dad, aiming to raise around €245,000 – but it seems everyone wanted to contribute. The value has now reached nearly 300k – and continues to increase.
“The man in this video is my dad. He’s been on the job for 27 years, and he’s never missed a day,” Serena, one of Ford’s daughters, wrote on the site. “He originally started this business as a single parent when he got custody of me and my older sister 27 years ago. When our family got bigger and he got married again, he continued to work there because of the amazing health insurance they offered.”
Serena wrote that the family “by no means asked for money, but if anyone felt his blessing, he would love to visit the grandchildren.”
For The Today Show, Ford said he never thought of missing a day of work, and that he’s received donations from people living in other countries, like Australia and the UK. “I’m grateful for everything,” he said, “for every day I wake up, I go to work, I’m a good citizen, I’m a good American and I do my part.”
Regarding donations, Kevin Ford has made it clear that he has no plans to retire or take a vacation. “You never know, it’s day after day, but I still haven’t thought about what I should do with the money, except visit my grandchildren and maybe put some aside for their university.”
“Proud coffee junkie. Gamer. Hardcore introvert. Social media trailblazer.”