Turning a new leaf and starting your life over is something not many people have the courage to do. However, a woman named Bethany Provencher isn’t one of those people who are afraid of challenges and new beginnings.
This woman, who is a single mom of an 11-year-old boy, packed all of her belongings and moved to St. Charles, Illinois for a fresh start after 18 years in Miami.
Having worked in the customer service industry for 25 years, she quickly found a job as a server at the local IHOP. She even moved into a new apartment but didn’t have any money to furnish it.
One day, while on the job, she spotted two familiar faces, that of singer-songwriter Donnie Wahlberg and his wife Jenny McCarthy.
As Danny has been one of Bethany’s favorite singers, she was happy to be their server. What she didn’t know, however, was that the day would turn even better.
When they finished with their lunch, Donnie and Jenny paid the bill, which was $35.27, and left Bethany a message on the receipt which read, “Thanks, Bethany, Happy New Year. 2020 Tip Challenge,” leaving her a generous tip of $2,020.
They asked her not to open the receipt until they left. Once she got the chance to take a look at it, she noticed the generous tip. Needless to say, Bethany was over the moon.
Bethany Provencher’s story is a heartwarming testament to courage, kindness, and the unexpected joys life can bring.
After spending 18 years in Miami, Bethany, a single mother to her 11-year-old son, decided it was time for a fresh start. She packed up her life and moved to St. Charles, Illinois, determined to build a better future. With 25 years of experience in customer service, she quickly landed a job as a server at a local IHOP. Despite securing employment and moving into a new apartment, she didn’t have the means to furnish her new home.
One ordinary day at work, Bethany was serving a couple she recognized—singer-songwriter Donnie Wahlberg and his wife, actress Jenny McCarthy. A longtime fan of Donnie, Bethany was thrilled to have them as her customers. What she didn’t know was that this encounter would change her day—and her outlook—in a way she never imagined.
After finishing their meal, the couple left a message on the receipt that read, “Thanks, Bethany. Happy New Year. 2020 Tip Challenge.” Alongside their kind words, they left an astonishing $2,020 tip on a $35.27 bill. Donnie and Jenny requested that Bethany not open the receipt until they had left, allowing her to discover their generosity in private.
When Bethany finally saw the tip, she was overcome with emotion. Their kindness couldn’t have come at a better time as she worked to establish a new life for herself and her son.
Gestures like this remind us of the power of compassion and generosity. Donnie Wahlberg’s participation in the “2020 Tip Challenge” not only helped Bethany but inspired countless others to pay it forward in their own ways.
For more details on this heartwarming story, you can watch the full video below. Acts of kindness, big or small, have the power to make a lasting impact, and Bethany’s story is a beautiful reminder of just that.