In a heart-warming twist, a Naples, Florida, First Watch team turned its holiday party into a surprise donation to an employee’s adoption journey.
The TikTok Surprise
A video posted by First Watch employee Heidi Paniagua shows General Manager Brandon Newton calling a staff meeting to announce the cancellation of the holiday party. He says, “We are unable to have a holiday party this year. Sorry, something more important came up.”
The clip captures Norman Vales, a kitchen staff member, hopping into frame and striking a comically chipper pose. Newton follows up, “Everyone knows about Norman’s journey trying to adopt a baby… these guys decided that it was more important for us to donate all that money to you and your wife.”
The staff react with calm smiles and cheers. Norman, still unaware of the true reason, waves his hand in acceptance. He later leaves the room to cry, a moment captured in the viral video that has earned millions of views.
Norman and Alicia’s Adoption Journey
Norman and his wife Alicia have struggled to have a baby for years and decided to adopt. They recently connected with a one-year-old girl in Honduras who was available for adoption. The couple has submitted affidavits to the Honduran government, and international adoption involves two separate trips to Honduras.
To cover additional adoption costs, they launched a GoFundMe that has raised $3,445 of a $4,000 goal. An update on the page notes that their savings are gone and loans were denied. Alicia told TODAY.com, “We are completely blown away by the generosity of our First Watch family and the outpour of love from the community. All of this has been so unexpected but we will forever be thankful. The donations from First Watch, our family, our friends, and community are life-changing gifts for our family as we prepare for our adoption.”
First Watch’s Response
The donation came from the team’s holiday party budget. Laura Sorensen, chief people officer at First Watch, said she could not be prouder of the Naples team for making the “thoughtful surprise” happen. “Norman and Alicia’s story has touched the hearts of so many,” Sorensen told TODAY.com. “We know it’s our people that differentiates us – and this is the epitome of our culture in action. This is our signature hospitality at its finest: Our team doing what they do best and putting others first.”
Paniagua, who shared the video, replied to a comment on TODAY.com, “Exactly I stay here bc I’m with my family.” She also told TODAY.com via direct message, “Norman and his wife are so deserving of all this support … I know their journey hasn’t been easy and I’m just glad we can all help.”
Community and CEO Support
The video sparked an outpouring of praise on TikTok. Comments read, “That baby is going to have the best parents,” and “God bless you Norman. You can tell you’re the coworker everyone needs.” Another user noted, “Norman has those dad jokes in the arsenal ready to go.”
On December 18, Vales appeared on NBC Nightly News and said, “I just broke down. I didn’t know what you think or what to say. In a kitchen staff, you’re in everybody’s life.”
On December 17, First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso recorded a special message for the Naples team. He said, “Hey Logan Landings team, we saw your video and are so inspired by you. There’s no way we’re gonna let you go without a holiday party.” Tomasso also announced that the office would replenish the holiday party budget and that they plan on giving “something special” to Norman. “We know you’re gonna be a great dad,” he added. “Happy holidays, everybody.”
Key Takeaways
- First Watch Naples cancelled its holiday party to donate the entire budget to employee Norman Vales and wife Alicia, who are adopting a baby girl from Honduras.
- The couple’s GoFundMe raised $3,445 of a $4,000 goal, and the donation came from the team’s holiday budget.
- The gesture sparked viral TikTok support, NBC Nightly News coverage, and a CEO-level commitment to keep the holiday party alive.
The story first appeared on TODAY.com and highlights how a small restaurant team turned a holiday celebration into a life-changing act of generosity.
