Packers' Aaron Rodgers Donates $1M to Small Businesses in California Hometown

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has donated $1 million to help 80 small businesses affected by COVID-19 in his hometown of Chico, California.

"Small, locally owned businesses are the heart and soul of a community," Rodgers said in a press release. "In the applications and the videos, it was heart-wrenching to hear about all the obstacles facing restaurants and retail establishments. So many of them are struggling just to stay in business but remain hopeful that there's an end to this."

Rodgers first announced his Small-Business COVID-19 Fund last week, partnering with the North Valley Community Foundation.

"Aaron is such an incredible person," NVCF President and CEO Alexa Benson-Valavanis said. "He looked at everything, decided he wanted to do more and doubled down on his original $500,000 commitment. He is such a champion for his hometown."

Rodgers previously donated $500,000 to The Barstool Fund, a community fund created by Barstool Sports to help small businesses. In announcing his own fund, Rodgers said he was inspired by the work done by Barstool and wanted to reach out to his community.

In 2018, he donated $1 million to help victims of the California wildfires.

Rodgers grew up in Chico before attending nearby Butte Community College for a year. He went on to play at Cal before being drafted by the Packers in 2005.