They Canceled Their Christmas Party To Help A Beloved Cook Adopt A Baby

December 22, 2025

A staff meeting at First Watch restaurant in Naples, Florida turned into an unforgettable moment of kindness.

Norman and Alicia

During the meeting, Norman — a cook beloved by his coworkers for his humor and upbeat spirit — was surprised to learn there would be no Christmas party. Instead, the staff made a heartfelt decision to donate the entire party budget to help Norman and his wife with their adoption.

After years of struggling to have a child, Norman and his wife, Alicia, decided to pursue adoption. Now, their long-held dream is coming true, as they prepare to welcome a baby girl into their family.

Server Heidi Paniagua recorded the moment the team surprised Norman with the news, and the video quickly went viral.

"We're beyond blessed that we have all these wonderful great people that you know had this thought in their heads and kindness in their heart and decided to share it with us," Alicia told NBC News.

The kindness didn’t stop there — a GoFundMe has since raised more than $3,000 to help Norman and Alicia with additional adoption-related costs.