When a 17-year-old Chick-fil-A employee won a car at a company raffle, no one would have faulted her for keeping it, but she had other plans. She didn’t hesitate to donate her prize. However, the story didn’t end there. Instead, she was soon hit with some unanticipated news that made the entire ordeal seem far-fetched, but it was indeed real.
Haley Bridges, a 17-year-old Chick-fil-A employee of Appleton, Wisconsin, was at a company banquet where she received five raffle tickets. Much to her surprise, she ended up winning the grand prize — a new car! However, she immediately decided she simply couldn’t keep it. Instead, she showed the world how tight Chick-fil-A bonds can be.
After winning the company raffle, Haley donated the car to a 19-year-old friend and co-worker who was in dire need. According to The Blaze, Haley gifted her winnings to Hokule’a Taniguchi, who had regularly commuted to the job on a bicycle, all fall and winter long. That was enough for Haley to decide that the car would better serve her friend.
After Haley’s act of generosity, Chick-fil-A Appleton took to Facebook to applaud their selfless employee.
“Seeing our team care for each other was our favorite highlight,” the company wrote on its Facebook page in a post about the celebration and raffle. “We were able to give away A CAR this year! Haley won the car, but immediately decided to give it to Hokule’a so she doesn’t have to bike to work anymore!”
According to Haley, it was just the right thing to do — even if her mom was a little upset that she gave away such a huge gift — because her co-workers aren’t just her fellow employees. They’re her second family, and she has no regrets.
“I started working at Chick-fil-A in late August,” she told Today, noting that she and Hokule became fast friends in the following weeks. “I love working here. Not only are the people that work here amazing, but it has taught me so many new things. I always look forward to going to work, I get to see my second family.”
While speaking with the outlet, Haley revealed how gifting the car, should she win, had been her plan all along, and many of her other co-workers were in on it too.
“The car was the only raffle where we couldn’t pool our tickets, one ticket per person,” Haley recalled. “Our friend group and some other friends decided to all put one in for her. We were all very nervous that someone else would get chosen, but we kept our hopes up,” she continued.
Then, it happened. Haley’s name was announced as the grand prize winner of the new vehicle, and she couldn’t believe her ears. Then, tears quickly followed.
“Once my name was called by one of the bosses, Hoku and I looked at each other, this is when she started to cry,” Haley revealed. “I’ve never seen her emotional side much. She is a very happy person and very funny and goofy as well. We looked at each other and I started to cry as well,” she continued. “My heart felt as if I was racing and we both stood up and ran to each other. Everyone in the room felt like they were gone, it felt as if it was just us two in the moment. We hugged each other hard and cried so much. Everyone was either crying or clapping. We all had a big group hug with everyone near us and it felt so unreal experiencing this,” Haley recalled, adding, “No one deserves it more than Hoku.”
Hokule’a was also in disbelief at this huge stroke of luck and her friend’s generosity, and she said she feels incredibly blessed to be a part of the Chick-fil-A family.
“I really just started crying, because I was so happy, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! I can’t believe this is real!'” Hoku explained, recalling the moment she realized she would have a new car. “Now I can go grocery shopping. I can, like, go to work, like, five minutes before now instead of, like, two hours earlier just to get here on time. There’s a million more opportunities and possibilities for me now!”
However, the story didn’t end there. Very soon, Haley Bridges found herself being hit with another wave of good fortune. Proud of Haley’s selflessness, her aunt held a fundraiser to get Haley’s own car loan paid off as she was paying monthly for a car that “took a chunk” of her paycheck when she gifted the free car to her friend. I can’t think of a more deserving person than Haley Bridges. It takes a huge level of generosity to give away a car when you have a payment of your own, especially at the young age of 17. This girl could teach us all a little something about having a giving spirit. Job well done, young lady!
