Golden Rule Charity offers financial help to those in the restaurant industry

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (KABC) -- Judy Walker hasn't seen much in the way of charity 'for' restaurant workers during her 25 years in the industry, leading her to the founding of the Golden Rule Charity.

"Chefs are always who we go to, restaurants are always who we go to when we ask for support, and yet I didn't know who was giving back to them," Walker said.

An easy online application process helps those in the restaurant business apply when in need.

"We will raise money and we will grant it right out that's what we're all about," Walker said.

There are more than 14 million restaurant employees in more than a million restaurants in the U.S. receiving aid from this charity with both large expenses and small requests.

"We do what we call crisis funding so it's big stuff, medical and then we're going to do joyful funding -- it's that dishwasher's daughter who needs a prom dress, or a cub scout uniform," Walker said.

Chef Chris Tzorin of Oak in Laguna Beach was the charity's first recipient.

"It wasn't about just money," Tzorin said. "It was about people that thought about us and give us hope to keep going."

Tzorin's young son passed away after a serious illness, leaving the chef and his family devastated. "I felt alone and the whole world had paused," Tzorin said.

Tzorin said he hopes the charity can inspire someone else as that one day changed his life.

The Golden Rule Charity wanted Tzorin to understand he wasn't alone. He was presented with a check and honored at the Golden Foodie Awards.

"We like to call ourselves the American Red Cross for the restaurant industry," Walker said. "We want to be there when people need us for good times and in bad times."

The 3-year-old organization gives grants nationwide, although the charity is based in Orange County, helping more than 100 people to date.