NBA superstar Stephen Curry and Canadian American actress Ayesha Curry gave a Californian restaurant owner a $25,000 check as a gift to help his struggling business amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The heartwarming surprise happened while the Bay Area couple appeared on “The Tamron Hall Show” on Dec. 21, according to SF Gate.
Tee Tran, the owner of Monster Pho restaurants in Emeryville and Oakland, California, has been providing meals to community members affected by the current pandemic.
Like many other restaurant owners around the country, Tran is struggling to keep his restaurants up and running. He has already lost 75% of his business and had to put his home on forbearance.
“I’m just juggling, trying to figure out every day. I know it’s tough for me, but it’s tough for everybody,” Tran said. “You just keep on pushing. I don’t want people feeling sorry for me. We just don’t do that. We just got to work hard and help people.”
Tran, a son of Vietnamese immigrants, partnered up with World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that feeds those affected by natural disasters, as well as the Currys’ Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. So far, they have provided over 24,000 meals to those in need. They have also given fresh produce to seniors who drop by the Monster Pho restaurants.
Curry commented on how Tran still gives back to the community despite his current situation: “It’s what the spirit of the community that we want to support is all about, and [Tran] embodies that through this pandemic. I love that spirit, that’s something I want to embody as well.”
Feature Image via Tamron Hall Show
