A Taco Bell employee got the surprise of his life when he received a tip worth more than $6,000.
Joe DeCicco is so loved by his community that he’s also known as “Taco Bell Joe.” He received $6,095 as a Christmas tip raised by hundreds of people in his community.
This is my favorite moment of 2020❤️ I’m so blessed to live in such amazing community full of kind, compassionate,…
Posted by Tricia Phillippi on Friday, December 18, 2020
Joe DeCicco has worked at a Taco Bell’s drive-through window in South Daytona, Florida for the last 20 years and all his customers are his friends as he remembers them by name. The chatty employee just received an unexpected cash prize because he has made his customers days so much brighter with his positive attitude.
It all started after Tricia Phillippi ran a contest on a Facebook page asking people to nominate their favorite local food industry worker who would receive a $50 prize and DeCicco won by a landslide.
So when Phillippi met him on December 18 and gave him the check, DeCicco was in tears. “It’s my customers that I owe this to. They bring out the best in me. It’s them. I couldn’t do it without your help,” DeCicco, 70, said in a video showing the heartwarming moment. “And I’m going to do my best to live up to it, and spark a light, a little candle in every heart of every person that I meet.”
The original amount was supposed to be $50, but the members decided that it wasn’t enough for Joe and a video shows Phillippi presenting a giant cheque of over $6,000 to Joe, who can’t believe his eyes. “I’m a little speechless right now too, but the original prize was a $50 cash prize,” Phillippi said in the video.
“And after I saw all the comments that were coming through about the kindness — the kindness that you have been giving people for more than 20 years, making all of us your friend and giving us exceptional service, on the behalf of the foodie review page and all of your friends here within your community, I’m so proud to present you with a cash prize of $6,095.
“Thank you for your amazing customer service and for being friends to all of us. Happy holidays, Joe.
“You deserve every single penny of it.”
Joe decided to turn the spotlight on to his workplace and customers, he said, “This job has been an enormous blessing to me,” he said. “It has brought out the best in me with the wonderful customers that we have.
“They gave me strength. They give me wisdom. They give me vitality. And these wonderful people have been true to me for Christmas. They have put grace into my Christmas.
“It’s my customers that I owe this to. They bring out the best in me. It’s them. I couldn’t do it without their help.”
Posted by Tricia Phillippi on Saturday, December 19, 2020
Phillippi shared, “This is my favorite moment of 2020,” she shared on Dec. 18. “I’m so blessed to live in such an amazing community full of kind, compassionate, loving people.
“God knew exactly what he was doing when he placed me here. Merry Christmas Taco Bell Joe, you are the true model of kindness and selflessness.”
Phillippi spoke about Joe deserving to win, “he deserves the recognition,” adding “he truly is the kindest, most gentle, most wonderful man,” and that “his spirit is just magical.”