A New Beginning and an Unexpected Gift
Starting Over
After eighteen years in Miami, Bethany Provencher, a single mother, moved to St. Charles, Illinois,
hoping to create a better life for her eleven-year-old son. With few possessions and limited savings,
she faced uncertainty but stayed determined, believing that “new beginnings often start quietly.”
A Chance Encounter
Bethany began working at a local IHOP, drawing on her 25 years of customer service experience.
One day, she served Donnie Wahlberg and Jenny McCarthy,
greeting them with her usual warmth, unaware the encounter would change her life.
The Surprise
When the couple left, Bethany found a $2,020 tip on their $35.27 bill,
along with a note reading, “Thanks, Bethany. Happy New Year. 2020 Tip Challenge.”
Renewed Hope
The gesture did more than ease her finances — it restored her faith in kindness.
For Bethany, that moment was “hope made visible.”
