The veteran-owned Black Rifle Coffee Company is donating a quarter of a million dollars to a fund established by Barstool Sports to assist small businesses economically ravaged by the COVID pandemic.
Initially, the Salt Lake City, Utah-based company pledged $150,000 but during an interview Wednesday morning with “Fox & Friends,” its executive vice president Mat Best announced he was adding $100,000 of his own money to the pot.
As she introduced the segment, Fox News co-host Ainsley Earhardt noted that Barstool Sports, founded by Dave Portnoy, has, to date, raised more than $35 million to help more than 240 small businesses make it through the pandemic.
Earhardt led off by congratulating Best, who then announced his personal donation while crediting company founder Evan Hafer, who appeared on the program as well, with the idea to contribute in the first place while explaining their motivation.
(Source: Fox News)
“I think most importantly, just kind of based of this political incompetence, there’s so many businesses struggling and they’re in a really bad spot,” Best said. “So as a company, you know, we always wanna be there to help people.”
Best, who is also the author of a book about his military career titled, “Thank You For My Service,” went on to note that he was moved to act after reading through several stories regarding Portnoy’s fund.
“It actually inspired me right before this call, I’m gonna write a $100,000 check right now to the Barstool fund out of my own money because we gotta do something for these guys and gals,” said Best. “I’m gonna back up Evan and I’m gonna increase that donation right now.”
“What?” Earhardt exclaimed in response as others on the Fox News set could be heard clapping. “That’s amazing. Thank you for doing that. God bless you for that.”
The co-host then asked Hafer what gave him the idea to donate and whether he has heard from any business owners who may benefit from it.
Hafer credited Portnoy for “leading by example.”
“He recognized a need where we can work together with our communities without, let’s say, government intervention, bypass the system, go directly to businesses that need the help,” he continued.
Hafer, who is also CEO of his company, said after seeing Portnoy discussing his fund on the air, he “reached out” to see how Black Rifle Coffee could “get involved.”
“I went back to our finance guys and said, ‘How much can we give?’ But this is a minimum of what we’re gonna give,” Hafer noted, adding that it was “a pretty easy decision to make.”
He went on to say that Black Rifle Coffee’s “ethos” is the same as Portnoy’s — to lead by example. Hafer added that his company also tries to support and promote other veteran-owned businesses, while catering specifically to Americans who have served and continue to serve in the military, as well as the first responder community.
“All the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, all the service members to include the police, fire, and EMS,” he added. “We love this country. We’re super proud to have been born here, to have been able to serve the United States overseas, both Mat and myself.”
Best added: “We’re not Elon Musk yet, not even close, but we’re always gonna be a leader in the community and do what we can.”
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Jon is a staff writer for BizPac Review with 30 years' worth of reporting experience, as well as an author and U.S. Army veteran. He has a BA in political science from Ashford University and an MA in national security studies/intelligence analysis from American Military University.
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