Kevin Ford is a Burger King employee who went viral for never missing a day of work in over two decades. In June 2022, Ford posted a video on TikTok in which he shared the gifts he received after 27 years of work for the fast food chain.
The gifts included a movie ticket, a Starbucks cup, a bag of Reese’s Pieces, two packs of Life Savers, two pens, a lanyard, and two keychains. Many criticized the gifts after the video went viral, resulting in Ford’s daughter launching a GoFundMe campaign. Over $450,000 has since been raised for Ford, surpassing the initial $200 goal.
According to Ford, his story went viral, and people donated generously because people wanted to be part of something beautiful. “I think people wanted to be a part of something beautiful for once and this is beautiful,” he told PEOPLE. “It’s a miracle.”
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He reportedly used a portion of the donations to buy his first home. On December 29, 2023, he reportedly offered his supporters a glimpse at the property.
“I know it’s not a mansion, but it’s mine,” he said while showing off the property. “I want to thank everyone all around the world for what you’ve done for me, something that I thought would never be possible for me: home ownership.”
In a statement to PEOPLE, Ford said he was humbled and full of gratitude for all the support he has been given and continues to receive from people from all walks of life. “This is beyond a dream come true and is truly a miracle,” he added.
Ford started working with Burger King as a single father when he gained custody of his daughters, according to one of his daughters, Seryna.
In a message on the fundraising page, she noted, “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.”
“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 retirement,” she added. “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.”
