Kid Rock pledges $100K to The Barstool Fund to help small businesses struggling due to the pandemic
Musician Kid Rock has pledged to donate $100K to help ailing small businesses in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
The 49-year-old, whose real name is Robert James Ritchie, took to Twitter on Monday to show support for The Barstool Fund and encourage others ‘as blessed’ as he is to do the same.
The Barstool Fund is a COVID-era charity created by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and has so far raised over $18 million for struggling amid pandemic shutdowns.
Charitable: Musician Kid Rock has pledged to donate $100K to The Barstool Fund to help ailing small businesses in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, he revealed in a tweet on Monday
‘THIS IS THE AMERICA I LOVE!,’ tweeted Kid Rock along with a link to The Barstool Fund.
‘Put me down for 100k. And I only post this in hopes others as blessed as me may be moved to help out. -Kid Rock,’ he added in the message.
The charity’s website allows do-gooders to donate money directly to the fund, as well as offering various kinds of merch like hats and shirts for sale.
All of the proceeds donated will go to assisting various small businesses and those struggling can apply for aid via an online portal.
Helping hand: The Barstool Fund is a COVID-era charity created by Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and has so far raised over $18 million for struggling amid pandemic shutdowns
Kid Rock’s own businesses have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
In March, when COVID-19 cases began rising in the U.S., the rocker was forced to close his Nashville, Tennessee establishment, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Rock ‘n’ Roll Steakhouse, despite his co-owner fighting the closure dubbing it ‘unconstitutional’.
‘In cooperation with the Mayor’s office, Tootsie’s Honky Tonk Central and Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk have closed to help protect the public health,’ the restaurant, which is owned by the rocker and his business partner Steve Smith, said in a statement at the time.
By June, however, Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk was no long cooperating with the Mayor’s office and temporarily lost its liquor license due to COVID-19 related safety violations.
Tough times: Kid Rock’s own businesses have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In March, when COVID-19 cases began rising in the U.S., the rocker was forced to close his Nashville, Tennessee establishment, Kid Rock’s Big Ass Honky Tonk & Rock ‘n’ Roll Steakhouse
The Metropolitan Beer Permit Board issued Kid Rock’s Big Honky Tonk and Steakhouse a five-day suspension after it broke guidelines last weekend by serving customers at the bar.
According to local COVID-19 guidelines at the time, patrons could not be seated or served at a public bar during the second phase of reopening guidelines
Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk co-owner Steve Smith stated that he was unhappy with the fine and called the Nashville government ‘communist’.
Punished: By June, however, Kid Rock’s Honky Tonk was no long cooperating with the Mayor’s office and temporarily lost its liquor license due to COVID-19 related safety violations
‘The Nashville government is, like, communist. They’ve got us behind a Berlin Wall. We met with Mayor Cooper and the doctors weeks ago and explained how having bar service is safer than table service,’ Smith fumed.
‘They’re doing everything they can to put us out of business. The state of Tennessee is already in Phase four and they’re talking about holding us in Phase two. It’s against our constitutional rights.’
The establishment is currently back open with its liquor license in tact.
Up and running: The establishment is currently back open with its liquor license in tact