The Green Bay Packers may have a well-earned bye, but Aaron Rodgers still delivered some MVP-like actions off the field this weekend as the star quarterback donated $500,000 to The Barstool Fund to help support small businesses affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Rodgers announced the donation on Friday during an Instagram Live interview with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who kicked off the Barstool Fund in December with his own $500,000 donation. Since its creation, as of publication, the fund has raised more than $22 million and supported 104 small businesses across the country – including several Wisconsin businessess such as Gray Brewing Company in Janesville, Dairy Land Family Restaurant in Madison, J&B's in Milwaukee and Abbey Bar in De Pere.
"They're doing something that the government isn't doing," Rodgers said in the Instagram Live interview. "We've had so many people who've been struggling with the PPP grants and not getting any money, or waiting around for some sort of stimulus check that isn't really going to help pay the rent for so many small businesses.
"We all have charities and stuff that are really important and do great work, but we're talking about our people. These are our people. This is the backbone of this country – small businesses and the middle class – that's taking it on the chin right now. I want to get involved. I have to get involved."
Say what you will about Portnoy and Barstool Sports, but this fund they've started is an unequivocal good for American small businesses – especially restaurants and bars – and for those looking for a bit of good during some bad times. So to follow Rodgers' lead and contribute a tax-deductible donation of any amount, visit the Barstool Fund's website. And if you're a small business in need of support during these difficult days, submit your application for a grant at TheBarstoolFund.com/apply.
As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.
When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.
