Guy Fieri announced late last week that he has helped to raise more than $20 million to benefit restaurant employees who have lost their jobs due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As we previously reported, Guy teamed up National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation to launch the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, to help benefit these restaurant employees. The fund aims to give $500 checks that can be used toward housing, transportation, utilities, child-care, groceries, medical bills and/or student loans.
Guy told TMZ Live that the fund has raised $21.5 million already and that they have been able to award 40,000 of these checks to restaurant employees in less than two months. Guy also said that he started sending personalized invitations to "heavy hitter" CEOs in the food and restaurant industry asking them to donate to the fund. So far, everyone from TikTok to PepsiCo are involved.
And of course, Guy isn't done raising money yet. As part of his fundraising effort, Guy partnered with Igloo on a special (and extremely cool) Flavortown cooler with 100 percent of profits going to the fund and is even going head-to-head with Bill Murray on a nacho-making contest that you can watch on May 15.
"As long as the money comes in, we're going to continue to give," he said on the livestream.
You heard the man! You can donate to the fund, request a grant, and learn more about the effort here.
