(WXYZ) – “God bless you,” Julie said, barely distinguishing the words from a Facetime call recorded with Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports.
Julie owns the Salon Volume in Allen Park. During the Facetime call, she learned that her business had been selected to be part of the Bartsool Fund, a fund dedicated to helping small businesses during the pandemic.
In just 10 days, Portnoy and Barstool raised nearly $ 17 million and helped more than 50 companies.
“These people are on their toes,” Portnoy said. “You see the wave of emotions just gone when we say, ‘Hey, we’ll be there for you.'”
Portnoy started the fund with a $ 500,000 donation, but the rest comes from more than 130,000 donors. Each selected company will receive assistance throughout the pandemic.
“If you get approval into our fund, you tell us how much you need, whether it’s rent, taxes, pay, and we’ll be there until it’s almost over,” Portnoy said.
To date, more than 50 companies have been selected, including Champs Pub in Brighton. For about 40 years, the family business has served exactly the same burger with the same owner and the same mustache.
“I haven’t seen my upper lip since 1970,” joked David “Champ” Beauchamp. The mustache became part of the Pub’s logo.
Despite spending even more money on igloos to keep going in person, the neighborhood pub had struggled. Then Portnoy called Champ, adding his pub to the background.
“It’s nice to be recognized for working so long in business,” Beauchamp said.
“It seems almost too good to be true,” Walter Macneil said during his call with Portnoy, which was recorded and posted online.
Macneil owns Acadian Seafood Shack from Saline, which has been active for more than 20 years.
“If you saw my video, I wasn’t very excited,” Macneil told 7 Action News. “I was waiting for the other shoe to come down because I didn’t think so.”
Within a few days of the video call, a deposit was made into the bank account of the Barstool Fund restaurant.
“What a blessing,” Macneil said. “The incredible thing I do. The incredible.”
With more money being donated, the Barstool fund is constantly growing, with plans to further add more companies and candid videos.
“It’s moving,” Portnoy said of business owners’ reactions. “That’s why I think we receive all the donations. You can’t follow them and you don’t have any empathy and compassion. “
The Shelby Township Premier Sports Center also receives support from the fund.
To donate or apply to the fund, visit the Barstool Fund.