Aaron Rodgers Donates to His Hometown’s Small Businesses

Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, made a large donation of $1 million to help 80 small and locally-owned businesses in his hometown. He’s from Chico, California, and extended his donation to all of Butte County, California.

Aaron Rodgers Helps 80 Small Businesses

The 80 small retail businesses and restaurants are going to receive grants that will help them cover rent for an average of 3 months or longer. The grants will also cover other operational costs. They will be provided through the Aaron Rodgers Small-Business COVID-19 Fund at North Valley Community Foundation in Chico. The grants, provided by Rodgers, will total to be more than $1 million.

Nine of the lucky small business owners spoke with Aaron Rodgers personally to be notified about the grants they received. The video calls were recorded and can be viewed on Rodgers’ Instagram. The small businesses that Aaron called include Cal Java Esplanade, Kona’s, AcaTaco, Pueblito 2, Naked Lounge, Great Harvest Bread Co., Smokin’ Mo’s, The Bookstore, and Nic’s Restaurant in Paradise.

Small Businesses Struggled to Stay in Business

Aaron Rodgers stated that most of the small and locally owned businesses are considered to be the heart and soul of the community, the same way they are in every community. The applications and videos that Rodgers received from business owners were heart-wrenching as he learned about the many obstacles they were facing. Many of them struggled to stay in business but remained hopeful.

The fund originally started in February when Rodgers donated $500,000. Once he saw the need for help in his hometown of Chico, California, he increased his donation to $1 million. The total was increased by $100,000, which was donated by the North Valley Community Foundation, Sherry and Gary Holbrook of Holbrook’s Clearance Center also made a generous donation, as did an anonymous donor when they gave $100,000.

Aaron Rodgers has been contributing to his hometown for many years. He significantly stepped it up in November 2018 after the Camp Fire that devastated Butte County.