There are nights in New York City that shimmer for reasons far beyond red carpets or flashing lights. The recent Server for an Hour event was one of them — a heartfelt evening where empathy, solidarity, and joy shared the same table.
Hosted by Chrissy Teigen, the gathering brought together an unexpected mix of guests and servers. Among those joining her were Orlando Bloom, Sophia Bush, Dorinda Medley, Heidi Gardner, Ciara Miller, Jesel Taank and Gayle King, all of whom spent the evening delivering food, pouring drinks, and connecting with guests — not as celebrities, but as fellow humans standing with the country’s service workers.
“It’s always my favorite event of the year,” Teigen told NBC New York. “I think it’s really admirable that they [[servers]] can do this day in and day out, come back to work and know that people like us are rooting for them and cheering them on, and see events like this and know we are here to support them.”
As a former server herself, Teigen said the night was especially meaningful — a way to honor the millions of people who keep restaurants, bars and cafés running every day.
Behind the evening stands One Fair Wage, the organization that conceived the initiative. Led by Saru Jayaraman, it has become one of the most prominent movements advocating to end the subminimum wage and ensure that all workers earn a full, fair wage —with tips as a bonus, not a necessity.
Jayaraman explained that this campaign is just one part of a larger mission.
“Now with the affordability crisis, that is part of a bigger fight for living wage for all. A minimum wage that is closer to the cost of living which honestly is not less than $25 anywhere in the country, more like $30 here in New York City,” she said.
The initiative has already gained national traction. From California to New York, the organization partners with workers and owners who believe in fair pay and sustainable practices.
The beauty of Server for an Hour wasn’t in the star power, but in the way it humanized an industry too often taken for granted.
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