It was just a normal day for server Omar Ramirez at the Rio Mirage Café in El Mirage, Ariz. He had been waiting tables at the restaurant for six years. During his shift on Thursday, November 7, he waited on a table of two, generally an easy feat for such a seasoned waiter. Towards the end of the meal, the two people were in quite a rush to get their check, but for a reason Ramirez did not expect.
Upon opening the tab post-service, Ramirez discovered the table had left him $500 in addition to his tip!
Ramirez is the 76th person around the country to receive a tip of $500 from Seth Collins of Lexington, Kentucky as part of what is known as “Aaron’s Last Wish.”
The story behind this tip is one of love and family. Collins’ brother Aaron died on July 7, 2012. The will he left behind requested that his family go out to eat and leave an “awesome tip” for a waiter or waitress. According to Collins, Aaron said, “I’m not talking about 25 percent, I mean $500.” After the first tip of $500 for a pizza was recorded and uploaded to YouTube by Collins, generous people from all over donated to continue Aaron’s last wish again and again.
Ramirez told a reporter from ABC15 that this money will go a long way for his family of five. He had been waiting for pay day on Friday to purchase the things his family needed but “today is pay day for me!” he said.
Collins said these kinds of reactions inspire him to keep giving, according to ABC15.
“It all started with what was going to be one tip, impacting one person. But when you do something kind like that, you really never know how far it’s going to spread, and how many people it’s going to impact in a positive way,” Collins said to ABC15.
There are so many stories out there about the domino effect that one simple act of kindness can have. In this case, it was a man fulfilling his brother’s last wish over and over again.
What can you do to start movement based on kindness? Do you have a tradition of kindness already established? Share with us.
Sources: ABC15