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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
High school grad goes viral for working at his Burger King job … still wearing his graduation outfit
Proudly wearing his high school graduation medals, Mykale Baker stopped by the Burger King in Dacula, Georgia, to mark the milestone with his coworkers. He had no way of knowing that a simple visit would lead to a life-changing viral moment. Baker wasn't scheduled to work the night he received his diploma, but when he saw the crew struggling to keep up with a surge of customers, he stepped in without hesitation. It was a natural instinct for the 18-year-old who had been named manager of a Wendy's at just 17. At that moment, Maria Mendoza happened to be waiting at the Burger King drive-through window for her order. She, like Baker, was coming from commencement, which had ended at 10 p.m. Although her daughter, Daizie Chavez, had graduated from Mill Creek High School the same year as him, the two had never met, which wasn't surprising in a class of more than 700 students. From the passenger seat, Mendoza, 45, craned her neck, curious about what was happening behind the counter. Who was preparing her Whopper? 'I'm kind of nosey sometimes!' Mendoza admits in an interview with 'And that's when I saw Mykale.' Around his neck hung medals honoring his achievements in marching band — as a percussionist, he was voted 'Most Selfless Person' — and in track and field, where he competed in hurdles. 'My whole world froze,' Mendoza recalls. 'My first thought was, he's working. He's not out celebrating like the rest of the kids. My child gets to be with me after the ceremony, and he's here.' And yet Baker was smiling, his face glowing with a wide beaming expression full of warmth and pure joy. "I was so happy I graduated," Baker tells "I couldn't take my eyes off of him," Mendoza says. She says something came over her, a sudden urge she couldn't ignore. She felt compelled to start recording, quietly capturing the scene without her husband or Baker noticing. Later that night, she posted the footage on TikTok, explaining that Baker had gone straight to Burger King after his graduation ceremony and that he looked 'so proud to carry his medals.' 'This young man deserves a scholarship!!!!' Mendoza wrote. The 43-second clip touched hearts across social media, and in just four days, a GoFundMe campaign for Baker — which Mendoza created and originally aimed to raise $5,000 — brought in more than $198,000 for his education. In the fall, Baker, a car fanatic, will attend Gwinnett Technical College to study automotive mechanics. With nine siblings, he says, there's never much to spare. 'Some of the money is going to go into fixing my car and the rest is going into a trust fund for school purposes only,' Baker, who was raised by a single mom, says. Soft-spoken and humble during the interview, Baker shies away from questions that focus on him but lights up when asked about Mendoza. 'It's brought our families together,' he says. 'She's a part of my family, and I'm a part of hers now.' He adds that he and Mendoza's daughter, Daizie, are now friends. Mendoza, for her part, is more than happy to brag about Baker if he won't do it himself. She shares that Mendoza's goal was to attend college and that he had been saving for it, holding jobs in the fast food industry since he was 16. If he didn't have enough, his plan was to join the Army, which would cover the cost of his education, a testament to his determination and resolve. 'He's incredible,' Mendoza says. "A lot of kids don't think that way." After hearing about the story, Burger King and the Burger King Foundation surprised Baker at work with a $10,000 scholarship. In recognition of Mendez's act of kindness, the foundation also awarded Daizie a $10,000 scholarship to support her studies in neuroscience at Georgia State University. Baker is training to become a manager at Burger King and will be working this summer, but he's most looking forward to an upcoming trip to Disney World with a friend. Demisha Scott, Baker's mother, describes him as 'the quietest' of her children, as well as 'very loving' and dependable. 'He doesn't think, he just automatically jumps in to help,' Scott tells TODAY. 'He's a very hard worker.' Scott says one of the band directors wrote a letter praising her son for always being the first to arrive and the last to leave practice. 'He'd load the van, break down the instruments and fix things if they broke,' she says. "That is who he is." Donations continue to pour in on Baker's GoFundMe, accompanied by messages filled with praise and admiration for his work ethic "Congratulations and God Bless You, Mykale! You are an inspiration and deserve to have the brightest future, and then some. You are already a leader and a role model at your precious, young age, and this world is made so much better by your presence," one person wrote. Added another, "Your story truly inspired me & touched my heart. It takes determination & humility to work after graduation. I pray that God continue to BLESS you beyond measure. As a PHD educated Black woman, I am truly moved by your GRIT. The future is yours! Go get it." This article was originally published on
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Teen Goes Viral Helping Burger King Coworkers After Graduating. Then Strangers Raised $200K to Send Him to College
Mykale Baker voluntarily, and spontaneously, helped his Burger King coworkers right after attending his high school graduation ceremony last month Customer Maria Mendoza, who noticed Baker was still wearing his graduation medals, captured the moment, which ended up going viral on TikTok. Then, she set up a college tuition fundraiser that has raised over $200,000 so far When the teen found out about everything he was shocked — but tells PEOPLE he also feels beyond blessedAn 18-year-old high school graduate in Georgia can now afford to go to college after his act of generosity on graduation night led to a viral TikTok. 'I just feel amazing,' Mykale Baker, who lives in Gwinnett County, tells PEOPLE. 'Blessed, honestly.' Mykale was one of about 700 students who graduated from Mills Creek High School last month. There, he received his diploma and two medals, one for band and the other for track. Afterwards, Mykale went to his local Burger King, where he works as a crew member, to pick up food for his family. Although he wasn't scheduled to work that night, he ended up helping out his busy coworkers behind the counter. 'Honestly, I walked in there and I just saw it was so busy,' he recalls. 'I was like, 'I'm not doing anything when I get home, so I might as well just help you out, give out a helping hand.' " The teen took off his cap and gown, but still wore his graduation medals around his neck, which caught the eye of a customer whose daughter went to the same school and also graduated that day. Maria Mendoza, 45, and her family — including the graduate, daughter Daizie — stopped in at the Burger King that night because Mendoza had a hankering for a Whopper. When she caught sight of Mykale through the drive-through window, she froze. "I told my husband, 'Look at him. He is working. Oh my God. He has his medals,' " she says. Moved by seeing Mykale fresh out of his graduation to prepare the customers' orders, Mendoza took out her cellphone and recorded him for several seconds before stopping when he turned around. 'I dropped the phone," says Mendoza, "and my daughter, who was in the backseat, was like, 'Mom, what are you doing? You're so weird.' " The next evening, Mendoza shared the clip of Mykale on TikTok and then went to sleep. 'When I woke up, I was just blown away,' she says. As of Friday, June 6, the TikTok has generated over 4.4 million views. It was her daughter Jazmine who suggested setting up an online fundraiser on Mykale's behalf. 'So I decided to put a GoFundMe to pay for his college tuition,' she says. (As of Friday, June 6, that GoFundMe has raised over $200,000.) Mendoza later stopped at the Burger King and asked for Mykale's contact information from his coworkers so she could tell him the news. They declined to give it to her, so she left them her phone number to pass it on to him. Twenty hours passed and Mendoza had not heard from Mykale. With the donations to the GoFundMe continuing to pour in, Mendoza went back to the Burger King to speak with Mykale's manager. The manager then called Mykale and told him to come to the restaurant. ''I need you to come right now. This is life changing. Please, I beg you. Come right now,' ' the manager said, according to Mendoza. Fifteen minutes later, Mykale and his mother entered the Burger King and Mendoza told them what happened. Upon hearing the news, an emotional Mykale hugged his mother and Mendoza. 'Honestly, when she told me about the video, I was surprised,' Mykale says. 'But when she showed me the GoFundMe, I was like, 'Wow. I might go to college now.' ' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Mykale says that he was originally planning to take a gap year or join the Army so he could pay for college. Now with the money raised for him, he has set his sights on Gwinnett Technical College. And that's not the end of his good fortune: after hearing about Mykale's story, Burger King and the Burger King Foundation awarded Mykale with a $10,000 scholarship. They also offered Mendoza's daughter Daizie with $10,000 scholarship as well. 'This story is about more than a viral moment. It's a testament to hard work, generosity, and the incredible ripple effect of doing the right thing," Burger King tells PEOPLE in a statement. Mendoza feels proud to be able to help Mykale achieve his dream. 'It brings me so much joy,' she adds. 'I'm smiling and laughing because I'm overjoyed of what's going on with Mykale. Now he's part of my life, and I'm part of his life, and his mom said we're family. I've gained a new family. I just feel so blessed." Meanwhile, Mykale is still working at the Burger King, but now he's a manager — and his life has changed because of the viral moment. 'I'm very grateful that she actually did this,' he says of Mendoza. 'It opened eyes up for me to see that now that she did this for me, that I return this favor and pay it forward to somebody else.' Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Burger King menu adds a wild new Whopper
Every big brand in the fast-food space works a little differently when it comes to how it keeps its customers coming back time and time again. McDonald's relies on the strengths of its classics such as the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder, making tweaks to overall quality over the years but keeping them as similar as possible, since they know customers have loved them for decades. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Taco Bell, however, has a very different strategy. The Tex-Mex fast-food giant operates very much at the speed of social media, offering new menu items all the time and frequently collaborating with big brands like Cheez-It to power constant interest from its devoted fanbase. McDonald's is very much a chain where people go decade after decade, and while it remains the most popular, Taco Bell has the edge of appealing to a Gen Z crowd due to its messaging and willingness to experiment constantly. Related: Celebrity chef's original eatery files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Restaurant Business International's (QSR) Burger King has a strategy that falls somewhere between the two. Its Whopper has remained its most popular menu item since it debuted in 1957, and as a result, Burger King reinvents it regularly, usually to positive results. Now the famous chain is doing that again, unveiling a new take on its famous flame-broiled burger that ought to attract some eyeballs. In an X post shared on June 5, the Burger King Japan official account shared news of a brand new Whopper launching for a limited time: The Wild West burgers. The first of the two new sandwiches is called the Barbecue Rodeo, which combines the chain's famous flame-grilled beef patties with its crisp onion rings, tops it with two slices of cheese, and finishes it with a healthy dollop of Bull's-Eye barbecue sauce. This sandwich will retail for 1,290 yen ($8.90 U.S.), which can be purchased separately or in a set with small fries and a medium drink for 1.590 yen ($10.97 U.S.). Related: Forget the Whopper, Burger King has a wild new burger The second new sandwich, called the Classic Rodeo, trades the Bull's-Eye barbecue sauce for ketchup and mustard, but keeps other ingredients the same. This one sells for the same price as the Barbecue Rodeo. The announcement on Burger King's website does note that the limited-edition sandwich may not be available at all locations. While the U.S. Burger King menu sadly will not offer the same sandwich, it does feature a Rodeo Burger that is very similar. Just order it and ask to have two slices of cheese added, and the itch for a smoky, savory taste will be scratched. QSR reported in its earnings call on June 5 that its revenue missed analyst expectations, and same-store sales declined across several brands, including Popeyes, Burger King, and Tim Horton's. However, demand was stronger outside of the U.S. and Canada, which may be why Japan is getting special limited-edition items like the Wild West burgers. QSR's problem is not unique. McDonald's also saw same-store sales shrink 3.5% in Q1, part of a bigger trend of customers pulling back on nonessential items in the shadow of President Donald Trump's tariff war and the ensuing economic uncertainty. Related: Burger King faces a Whopper of a lawsuit The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Forget Grimace, McDonald's menu adds bizarre new shake
Some may remember when McDonald's Happy Meals and toys featured McDonaldland characters. In 1971, McDonald's introduced McDonaldland through commercials and marketing to further market its brand to kids. This fantasy world featured multiple fictional characters, including Grimace, Birdie, The Hamburger, Officer Big Mac, Mayor McCheese, the Fry Kids, McNugget Buddies, and the iconic Ronald McDonald. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter This cast became memorable for those who grew up during that era since they were seen at every McDonald's location, in Happy Meals, and on merchandise. Related: McDonald's brings back unexpected breakfast item after 6 years However, in the early 2000s, McDonald's changed its marketing strategy and began phasing out the characters to appeal more to adults. After all, they are the ones with credit cards. Although this might have seemed like the end of an era, this tactic worked in McDonald's favor, allowing the chain to grow immensely and become one of the largest fast food chains worldwide. Image source: Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images Over the last few years, McDonald's (MCD) has begun using nostalgic marketing to boost growth. This strategy creates a strong connection between a product and customers' emotions, promoting familiarity and creating a positive association, which, if managed correctly, could eventually develop a loyal customer base. The fast food giant brought back some of the most beloved McDonaldland characters in 2023, including the Hamburglar, to promote its burgers, and a purple Grimace Shake to celebrate Grimace's birthday. Related: Forget the Whopper, Burger King has a wild new burger This year, McDonald's also returned the seasonal Shamrock Shake to its menu, featuring O'Grimacey, Grimace's green Irish uncle. To kick off the beginning of June on another nostalgic note, the fast food giant has released another menu item that will take customers back to their childhood and remind them of "winning that big prize at every summer carnival you've ever been to," as stated on the McDonald's website. After teasing its debut on social media for a few days, McDonald's has finally unveiled its latest milkshake, the Cotton Candy Shake. This newest menu addition features vanilla soft serve mixed with cotton candy syrup. But there's a catch: Unfortunately for the U.S., this milkshake is only available at all participating locations in Canada, which once again excludes its home country's fans. McDonald's adapts its menu in different countries based on cultural preferences or conveniently available foods. The same goes for limited-time additions or seasonal items. More Food News: Walmart makes deal to open popular food chain in storesPopular fast-food burger chain to open first store in new marketPopular chicken chain brings back beloved menu item after 7 years However, just because McDonald's launches a new menu item in one country doesn't mean the chain can't launch it elsewhere. If the same ingredients are available in another country for around the same rate, and there's enough demand for it, the item can be brought to other markets. This is why exclusive menu items may overlap across some countries. McDonald's has neither confirmed nor denied that it will bring the Cotton Candy Shake to the U.S., but fans can only hope its debut is successful enough in Canada to potentially launch it in the States. The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Burger King reopens at Tower Park after major revamp
Burger King has reopened its Tower Park branch after a major revamp. The fast-food chain is celebrating the reopening by giving away 1,000 free Whopper or Chicken Royale burgers on Thursday, June 5. The newly remodelled restaurant now offers table service and has extended its opening hours from 8am to midnight. This means customers can enjoy their favourite Burger King meals, including breakfast, at any time of the day. River Mack, the restaurant manager, said: "The team and I are thrilled to return and serve our customers in Tower Park. Tower Park branch open daily from 8am to midnight, including breakfast (Image: Adam Parker) "We look forward to welcoming both familiar faces and new guests to experience the renovated restaurant, and we're confident they'll have a fantastic time while enjoying our delicious meals." The reopening of the Tower Park branch also provides an opportunity for Burger King fans to take advantage of the deals and discounts available on the Burger King app. Loyal customers can enjoy savings on their favourite meals, including the Whopper and Chicken Royale, throughout the year. The Tower Park branch, with its new design and extended hours, aims to enhance the customer experience and cater to all meal times and delivery orders. The reopening comes as part of Burger King's ongoing efforts to improve its restaurants and customer service across the UK.
