The staff at Promise in Brevard has been known to pull a prank here and there on the non-profit’s President and CEO Jeff Kiel.
One time they filled his office with an enormous amount of balloons. Another time they decorated his workspace with as many July 4th decorations as they could find.
The antics continued while Kiel was away on vacation over the holidays.
Four staff members at Promise, which provides housing, vocational training and other opportunities to adults with disabilities, came in on their days off to prepare a special Christmas “gift” for the boss. They were joined by some volunteers and families of Promise residents.
Over the course of about a week, the team worked to wrap every inch of Kiel’s office in Christmas wrapping paper. That included everything from the floor and walls up to the ceiling, his desk and chairs, as well as the television and pictures hanging on the wall. A stack of papers, Post-it notes, a flash drive and even Kiel’s glasses were wrapped.
The only thing they didn’t wrap was a plaque on the desk that reads, “I’m kind of a big deal.”
“We were a little nervous at first because we thought he’ll either love this or be annoyed because he has work to do,” said Patty Knowles, Promise’s resident services manager.
To their relief, Kiel thought it was hysterical.
“After returning from spending time in Denver with grandkids Rowan and Caleb, I opened my door and was stunned,” Kiel said.
A video camera set up in the corner of the office captured Kiel’s reaction when he opened the door.
“Oh my gosh. You’re kidding me,” Kiel said after opening his office door before laughing and walking off to find the responsible parties.
Employees gathered to get a view of their creation as Kiel marveled at it.
“Did you guys get any work done while I was gone?” he joked.
How the Promise boss’ office was wrapped in Christmas paper
Mary Griffin, Promise’s finance manager, and Donna McWilliams, Promise’s director of development, both saw TikTok videos that gave them the idea for the prank and knew it had to be done.
McWilliams took advantage of after-Christmas sales and bought about a dozen rolls of Christmas paper. Then the pranksters got to work, coming in on off days to complete the project.
Kiel returned from vacation early Saturday morning and headed to the office that day. The staff anticipated this as Kiel, a former FLORIDA TODAY publisher, is known to be a workaholic. Those working that day were instructed not to let the boss into his office.
Monday morning, his staff took their places at their desks and tried not looking suspicious as they waited for Kiel to open the door. Once he did, they knew their prank was successful.
“With time to reflect, it made me appreciate working with a team that loves our Promise mission and having fun while supporting a life of independence for our residents at Promise. I am truly blessed,” Kiel said.
They helped him unwrap the essentials he needed to work – his computer, phone and those glasses. The rest may stay up through the week to savor this special prank a little longer.
“We love and appreciate him, and that’s the vibe we hope he got from it,” Griffin said. “But I don’t know how we’re going to top this one.”
What is Promise in Brevard?
Located in West Melbourne, Promise houses 125 residents with special needs, ranging in ages from 19 to 60. The average age for most residents is 30 and there is an extensive waiting list. Residents benefit from subsidized rents, which, along with fundraising, is crucial for their ability to stay in the community.
The program helps residents with transportation and finding gainful employment, with many residents working at the facility, Publix and other local corporations. Promise also provides life skills education, teaching adults about health, nutrition and cooking as well as fitness and art classes.
It was named Organization of the Year last month at FLORIDA TODAY’s Volunteer Recognition Awards.
Spitzer is a Trending Reporter. She can be reached at MSpitzer@Floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Christmas surprise greets this Brevard boss when he returns from break
