(WXYZ) – ‘God bless you,’ says Julie, barely uttering the words in a recorded Facetime call with Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports.
Julie owns Salon Volume in Allen Park. During the Facetime call, she found out 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 ten days, Portnoy and Barstool raised nearly $ 17 million and helped more than 50 businesses.
“These people, they’re on their last legs,” Portnoy said. “You see, the emotion wave just disappears when we tell them, ‘Hey, we’ll be there for you.’ ‘
Portnoy started the fund with a donation of $ 500,000, but the rest comes from the more than 130,000 donors. Every chosen business will get help throughout the pandemic.
“If you’re approved in our fund, tell us how much you need, whether it’s rent, taxes, salaries, and we’ll be there until this thing is over,” Portnoy said.
So far, more than 50 businesses have been selected, including Champs Pub in Brighton. For about 40 years, the family business served exactly the same citizen along with the same owner and the same mustache.
“I haven’t seen my upper lip since 1970,” jokes David “Champ” Beauchamp. The mustache became part of the Pub’s logo.
Despite even more money on igloos to keep in person at the table, the neighborhood bar struggled. Then Portnoy gave Champ the call and added his bar to the fund.
“It’s nice to be recognized that you’re been busy for so long,” 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 is the owner of Mac’s Acadian Seafood Shack in Saline, which has been operating for over 20 years.
“When you saw my video, I did not act very excited,” Macneil told 7 Action News. “I waited for the other shoe to sag because I did not believe it.”
Within days of the video call, a deposit was made to the restaurant’s bank account from the Barstool Fund.
“What a blessing,” Macneil said. “Amazing thing they do. Incredible ”
With more money donated, the Barstool fund continues to grow, with plans to keep adding more businesses and sincere videos.
“It’s gripping,” Portnoy said of the business owners’ reactions. ‘That’s why I think we’re getting all the donations. You can not look at it and not have empathy and compassion. ”
Premier Sports Center in Shelby Township also receives support from the fund.
Visit Barstool Fund to donate or apply for the fund.