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Bay Area power couple Steph and Ayesha Curry surprised the owner of an East Bay Vietnamese restaurant with a gift to help him continue his struggling business and his efforts to help the community.
The Golden State Warriors star and the chef/cookbook author presented Tee Tran, the owner of Monster Pho in Oakland and Emeryville, with a $25,000 check on “The Tamron Hall Show.” Since the first stay-at-home orders, Tran has delivered produce to homebound seniors and put fresh vegetables in front of his restaurant for anyone in need. He also works with the Currys’ Eat, Learn, Play organization and World Central Kitchen to provide 24,000 meals for the community. This is despite that he has lost 75 percent of his business and has had to put his home on forbearance.
“Literally I’m just juggling, trying to figure out every day,” Tran said. “I know it’s tough for me, but it’s tough for everybody. You just keep on pushing.”
Ayesha Curry described how the pandemic’s effect on restaurants has been devastating. “It’s been really disheartening. Every day the need is growing for the help in the restaurant industry, and we’re just not getting it.”
Steph Curry finds Tran’s actions inspiring: “He hits the ground every morning with gratitude and finds a way to keep pushing,” the Warriors star said. “And I love that spirit. It’s something I want to embody as well.”