Faithful readers will recall the story about a year ago of a Burger King employee who hadn’t missed a single day at work for 27 years. The company didn’t recognise the feat. But his co-workers came through with what they could afford…
Kevin Ford: The photo from the Go Fund Me page set up by his daughter Seryna…
Kevin Ford worked – and still does – at the Gate C Burger King in the terminal of Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport, formerly McCarran International.
The drawstring gift bag he was given contained only a movie ticket, a Starbucks cup, a bag of Reese’s Pieces, two packs of Life Savers, two pens, a lanyard and two key chains.
Kudos to Kevin’s fellow workers for the gesture. But Ford’s daughter thought he deserved more. So she started up a Go Fund Me page to recognise her dad’s dedication to his family and his exemplary work ethic.
The backstory
“He originally began working at this job as a single father when he gained custody of me and my older sister 27 years ago,” daughter Seryna wrote. “Then as our family grew and he remarried, he continued to work there because of the amazing health insurance that was provided through this employer because it was unionized. This got all four of his daughters through high school and college with full healthcare coverage.”
But the situation was more complicated than that. Ford was heading for retirement.
“My dad continues to work there, because though he does look young, he is coming up on retirement age and leaving would cost him his [pension]. 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.
Landslide response
The response to the Go Fund Me request was fueled by extensive media coverage following the online posting of a video of Ford opening his ‘gift’.
Seryna started out suggesting a Go Fund Me goal of $2,700. But so enthusiastic was the outpouring of support for her Dad that donors urged her to raise the goal. Propelled by that support, she subsequently increased the goal 8 times.
As of this report, the total cash pledged by supporters from across the net has topped 427,000.
Storybook ending?
Ford says his life hasn’t changed all that much as a result of the mammoth response to the Go Fund Me ask. “I still work at the same place, C Gate’s Burger King,” he told People Magazine. “I still drive Uber and DoorDash on the weekends.”
But he did fly out to visit his grandkids for his birthday.
~ Maggie J.