Eat 'n Park diner's GoFundMe retirement fund for 81-year-old waitress tops $250K — and growing

A $40 tip from a concerned Eat’n Park diner has started a quickly growing retirement fund for an 81-year-old waitress.

In a TikTok video, Tamie Konzier, 41, of Millvale, who works as an esthetician at Bloom Beauty Parlor in East Liberty, was with her son, Leo, 10, at an Eat’n Park on McKnight Road in Ross on Wednesday when she noticed that their waitress, only known as Betty, “can hardly walk.”

Konzier said they went to the restaurant, which they had been to a handful of times before, after Leo had seen a doctor for an ear infection. They chose the Eat’n Park, the larger of two on McKnight Road, for lunch because the other does not have a salad bar.

Betty had never waited on them before, she said.

“We could tell she had a hard time walking,” Konzier said Thursday at Bloom, where she’s worked for five years. “She was wonderful, very nice and very personable.”

Konzier said she overheard Betty tell customers at another table that she has to keep working because she gets only $910 per month on Social Security, and it’s not enough to pay her bills.

She had $40 in her purse from her own tips that day and gave it to Betty for a tip.

@tamie.lynn Hoping we can help this sweet lady retire! I think Jen Hamilton could help me do it but I can’t tag her! #viralvideo #fyp #jenhamilton ♬ original sound - Tamie Konzier

With a small following on TikTok, Konzier decided to make a video, intending to give her the money made from views on that.

“My grandma’s in her 80s. I just couldn’t imagine her having to still have to work and provide,” she said. “I thought it would be a nice thing to do.”

Her GoFundMe started with a $9,000 goal. She had no idea what was about to happen, with people around the world — more than 4 million by early Thursday afternoon — seeing and being moved by her video.

“We posted it not thinking it would raise any money or what it has raised,” she said.

As of Friday morning, Konzier’s GoFundMe campaign, after just one day, had topped $250,000 from over 10,000 donations. She also had received about $4,000 through Venmo.

The giving list includes at least four donations of $1,000 and one — under the moniker “Franco D Harris” — of $2,500.

“I hope she retires and maybe gets to travel, if she wants, or pay off bills,” Konzier said. “If she doesn’t want to retire, if she enjoys her job, maybe she does, then use the money, it’s her money. I hope she can use it how she wants and enjoy the rest of her life.”

Konzier doesn’t know whether Betty is aware of what’s happening. As of Thursday afternoon, she had yet to get in contact with Eat’n Park or Betty.

“It all happened so fast,” she said. “I can’t believe it.”

Eat’n Park spokeswoman Courtney Caprara said they are “thrilled to see the outpouring of support for Betty.

“She creates so many smiles for our guests and team members every day, and we’re grateful for all that she brings to our team. We love our team members, and we love that our guests and community members love them, too.”

The location’s manager, Troy Wright Sr., said he was not permitted to comment, and Betty was not there Thursday afternoon.

At the restaurant on Wednesday, Konzier guessed Betty was in her 70s and was astonished when Betty told her she’s 81.

“Oh my goodness! You look great!” Konzier says.

“I mean, I worked all my life as a waitress and still can’t retire,” an unseen Betty tells her in the video.

Despite her apparent mobility issues, Betty says she’s still spry.

“I can still outdo these young whippersnappers,” she says, then offers some sage advice to Leo in parting.

“Take care and enjoy life because it will go by you fast.”