The $100 Diner Challenge has been filling our social media feeds as of late. While some people are just catching onto the trend, others have been doing it for years. Take Maneesh Goyal, for example, who recently assembled 35 friends in New York City for his fourth annual diner challenge. Together, they presented the waitress, Eva, with a $3,500 tip, and her reaction (shown in the Instagram post above) says it all.
“Eva started crying, as did many of us. It was pure joy. I mentioned when I presented them with the tip that we are just a group of friends—new and old—who were coming together during the holidays to spread a little joy…and we were so thrilled to have met both of them this morning,” he wrote on Instagram. “It’s the simplest of ideas, really…but one with such impact. If you like this idea, please steal it (as I did from my friends Dudley & Lizzy Morton in Denver.) It really was a picture-perfect holiday miracle.”
PureWow also spoke with Aly Weisman, who experienced the $100 Diner Challenge firsthand and described the impact it had on the entire group.
“It was a great way to come together with friends new and old to celebrate the holiday spirit and contribute in a direct way,” she said. “Seeing the smiling faces of the waitstaff after they received the tip was really heartwarming and the best way to kick off the holiday season. It’s also a good reminder of how small acts of generosity can have a big impact.”
We’re totally stealing this idea.