After 27 years of service, a Burger King employee was rewarded with a goody bag - so the public rallied to raise over $400,000 for him.
The internet erupted with admiration for 55-year-old Ford after a video capturing his reaction to a 27th-anniversary gift from his employer made waves across social media platforms.
The viral video showed Ford's genuine appreciation for his milestone gift, which consisted of a goody bag containing a packet of Reese's, a reusable Starbucks cup, two pens, and a movie ticket.
Ford graciously accepted the token, though he humorously remarked that it seemed like a collection of things that "they had lying around."
Ford's remarkable dedication to his job, where he has never taken a sick day, touched the hearts of many, which sparked incredible acts of generosity from those who viewed the video.
A GoFundMe page was launched by his daughter Seryna who set out to reach a goal of $200 to support her father.
What happened next far surpassed anyone's expectations, as at the time of writing, the fundraising page has amassed over $400,000 in donations.
Seryna stated that her father began working the job as a single father 27 years ago, before adding: "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."
Clarifying that the family had not set out to request financial assistance, Seryna expressed, "We are in no way asking for money, but if anyone feels compelled to bless him, he would love to visit his grandchildren."
As per the New York Post, Ford was able to visit his grandchildren in April as he jetted off to Texas with the help of the donations, adding that they "changed my life forever".
The touching story reached new heights when Ford was granted the remarkable opportunity to travel to New York City for an appearance on NBC's "Today" show. Live on national television, Ford shared an emotional reunion with his beloved grandchildren, whom he hadn't seen in over four years.
"I’ve been crying for all these days as it is and of course, I’m crying live on TV again seeing my grandbabies," Ford emotionally said.
Despite the considerable sum that has been raised in his honor, Ford remains steadfast in his commitment to his job. The idea of retirement or a leisurely vacation is not on the immediate horizon for him.
His priority lies with his cherished family, and he shared his heartfelt intention: "You never know, it’s day to day, but I haven’t thought of anything to do with that money except to visit my grandkids for a while and maybe put some up for their college, but I’m not even thinking about that. I’m just working."
