Celebrity chef and restaurateur Guy Fieri raises more than $20 million to help restaurant workers affected by COVID-19. COVID-19 has decimated the hospitality industry as movie theatres, restaurants and theme parks, like Disney's parks, have all been forced to close.
Speaking to TMZ Live, Fieri revealed that he has teamed up with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation to create the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. Fieri said that he sent out personal video messages to CEOs in the restaurant business to put money into the fund, allowing it to grow to $21.5 million. Some of the businesses that have helped, said Fieri, are PepsiCo, Uber Eats, and Coca Cola.
Fieri said that 40,000 grants of $500 have been given to restaurant employees affected by COVID-19, but he expects to keep giving out this money as long as it is coming in. However, it's unclear just how long the hospitality industry will be affected, and if larger restaurant businesses, which may have several locations, will be able to bounce back.
There are signs that suggest that the hospitality industry may not look like it did before COVID-19. Universal's decision to release Trolls World Tour digitally was a huge success, which could affect movie theaters and restaurants in the same space as them. Social distancing rules may mean that restaurants are unable to get as many customers at once. This could mean that funds like Fieri's are needed for much longer.
Source: TMZ