After the second lockdown in New York City, CEO of Barstool Sports Dave Portnoy recognized the severe damage this closure could cause to family owned businesses so he decided to take action. He recognized the severity of the issue, as he regularly checked up on the restaurant owned by his camera man’s father.

“His dad owns Borelli’s in Long Island, which is  a 30 year old single restaurant with only indoor dining. When I ask, “how’s your dad doing?”, “how’s the restaurant doing?” —every month it gets a little bleeker.”

To help support these sorts of businesses, he created the Barstool Fund, an initiative to support and maintain small businesses until the pandemic is over. However Portnoy set requirements for these businesses saying that ; ““To qualify for us you have to still be paying your employees.” So your payroll must still be on.”

Portnoy hopes the Barstool Fund will help maintain these businesses through the pandemic. The Fund has helped restaurants  and businesses across the country, and Portnoy has said that he is eager to continue to help businesses like Borelli’s. When talking about the fund Portnoy asked “…what Barstool could do to make sure that Borelli’s and other businesses can stay in business until this pandemic is over.”  

“What can we do to make sure you can stay in business until this pandemic is over?”

With a $500,000 start, he plans to carry out the fund as long as they are able to. The fund has received massive support. As of Jan. 15, 2020 the Barstool fund has raised $25,321,023 and has helped 127 businesses nationwide. Many people have supported the cause, as they have received countless donations from celebrities as well as regular people.

Small Businesses are instructed to apply for the fund by visiting TheBarstoolFund.com/apply. If their application is selected, Portnoy greets everyone with a FaceTime call in which he announces to them that they have been selected.