Kevin Ford, a former Burger King chef who gained internet fame after dedicating 27 years to the fast food chain, is starting a new chapter in his life with the help of funds raised on his behalf.
Back in 2022, Kevin celebrated his 27th year at Burger King, only to receive a less-than-impressive gift comprising a movie ticket, a backpack, a Starbucks mug, and some candy. His family felt this was an inadequate reward for his long service.
This prompted Kevin’s daughter, Seryna, to launch a GoFundMe campaign. Initially, the goal was set at a modest $200, but the fundraiser quickly surpassed expectations, amassing over $400,000 for Kevin’s retirement.
As of now, the donation total stands at $460,000.
“He originally began working at this job as a single father when he gained custody of me and my older sister 27 years ago,” Seryna explained on the GoFundMe page.
“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.”
Late last year, thanks to the generous donations, Kevin was able to purchase a home. He is now the owner of an 846-square-foot property featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, which he bought for $177,000.
Kevin expressed his gratitude on social media for all the support he received.
“I wanted to show you something, something you made possible, you did for me, just a hardworking guy,” Kevin shared.
“Now I know it needs some work, gonna cut off the haters already, I know it’s not a mansion but it’s mine.”
Kevin is now using the remaining funds to pursue a new career venture. He recently bought a food truck for $20,000.
On August 21, Kevin took to TikTok to praise the company from which he purchased the truck.
He named the truck K27Y, standing for Kevin 27 Years, as a tribute to his viral story.
Once again, he thanked everyone for their donations and for making his dream a reality.
Kevin captioned the video: “You did it again… Now I don’t know how successful it’s gonna be with blessings from God and from you. Hopefully, it’ll be a great success for me, for my family, for my children, for my generations, for the community. But I just want you to know you did this and you made this possible.”
According to TMZ, Kevin aims to have his food truck operational by May 2025.