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The last 10 months have been rough on millions of Americans suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aaron Rodgers isn’t one of them, for he earned over $21 million this season and led the Green Bay Packers to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. But Rodgers is stepping up in a big way by teaming up with Barstool Sports to send a $500,000 lifeline to small businesses affected by the coronavirus.

Aaron Rodgers’ charitable history

Aaron Rodgers has earned over $240 million during his 16-year NFL career, and he’s given back plenty to his community over the years.

Rodgers has been involved with numerous charitable organizations, including the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer (MACC) Fund, The Enough Project, the Starkey Hearing Foundation, Legal Action of Wisconsin, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, among others.

In the offseason, Rodgers can regularly be found with former teammates Donald Driver and Greg Jennings at various charity events. He also plays in charity golf tournaments annually. Rodgers isn’t just one of the most talented quarterbacks ever. He’s one of the most charitable too.

Aaron Rodgers donates $500,000 to the Barstool Fund

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Aaron Rodgers has found the newest cause for him to support. Over the weekend, Rodgers hopped on an Instagram live interview with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, and the QB pledged $500,000 to the Barstool Fund.

The Barstool Fund was created last month as a lifeline for struggling small businesses around the country. Portnoy kicked off the donations with a $500,000 sum of his own money, and the fund has only exploded from there. Rodgers is just one of the few celebrities to contribute.

“I’ve been following you for a while, and I love the brand and what you guys have done. But this far exceeds anything you have ever done,” Rodgers told Portnoy during the call. “I just want to get involved. The videos every day are so inspiring. I’m in. I want to be in the same amount you put in, $500,000.”

Alongside Rodgers, Barstool Sports fans such as Tom Brady, celebrity chef Guy Fieri, and Kid Rock have joined in helping the cause.

“They are doing something that the government isn’t doing,” Rodgers continued. “This is real money. This is not, ‘Hey, we’ll put you on a list and we’ll try to work you in.’ You’re getting them the money in 24 to 72 hours. That’s life-changing money.”

The Barstool Fund has now raised over $22 million

With the help of Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and other celebrities, the Barstool Fund has now raised an incredible $22.7 million for small businesses as of Jan. 12. All of the money is going directly to struggling businesses across America.

As of today, the fund has helped 114 businesses get back on their feet after dealing with the financial repercussions of the coronavirus.

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Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

When Jack isn’t writing about sports, he’s watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He’s also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.