The Story of an Arkansas Waitress and the $4,400 Tip That Changed Everything

Ryan Brandt, an Arkansas waitress, experienced what should have been one of the happiest days of her life when she received a staggering $4,400 tip from the “$100 Dinner Club.” Initially, she intended to use the money to pay off her student loans. However, the restaurant management informed her that she could only keep 20% of the tip, with the remainder to be shared among the staff. This shocking revelation prompted her to rethink her plans.

After being terminated for allegedly violating the restaurant’s tipping policy, Brandt was required to return the bulk of the money if she wanted to retrieve her earnings. In an effort to support her, Grant Wise, the owner of a local real estate agency, organized a meal and gathering at Oven and Tap in Bentonville, Arkansas. The members of the “$100 Dinner Club” each contributed another $100 tip for Brandt.

Wise reached out to the restaurant management ahead of time to ensure that the waitstaff wouldn’t have to share their tips. During the gathering, Brandt was surprised when the management presented her with a check for the full amount. However, it soon became apparent that the restaurant would still require her to divide the tips and pay taxes on them—demands she had never encountered in her three and a half years working there.

Brandt expressed her dismay, saying, “I was informed that I would be passing my cash over to my shift manager and that I would be taking home 20%.” Instead of alleviating her financial burdens, she was forced to give up a significant portion of her earnings.

Tragically, just days later, Brandt was fired for violating the restaurant’s policy by discussing the tipping rules with Wise. This policy prohibited employees from sharing information about the restaurant’s practices with customers.

Wise, recognizing the hardships faced by restaurant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, initiated the “$100 Dinner Club” to provide support for waitstaff who had been adversely affected by the crisis. When he discovered Brandt had lost her job after the event, he reached out to her through text, as he was unable to speak directly with the restaurant owner.

After learning about her termination, Wise posted about the situation on social media, aiming to raise funds for Brandt through a GoFundMe campaign. His goal was to help her navigate this challenging experience with minimal stress and to support her in finding new opportunities.

Recently, Wise updated his followers, sharing that Brandt had accepted a job offer at another restaurant as of December 8th. He decided to conclude the GoFundMe campaign after raising a total of $8,700, ensuring that Brandt had the support she needed to move forward.