Former Arkansas Razorbacks and New England Patriots football player Jake Bequette has launched a relief fund designed to impact small businesses in Arkansas.
Bequette has launched the Arkansas Fund to raise money for struggling businesses throughout the state. According to the Arkansas Fund website, the fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that “seeks to rapidly disburse donations to keep businesses open and avoid layoffs” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a Twitter post on Friday, Feb. 12, Bequette announced that the fund had already raised $100,000. All of the net proceeds, he said, would go to help struggling small businesses in the state.
Today I’m launching @TheArkansasFund, a relief fund specifically for small businesses in Arkansas.
— Jake Bequette (@JakeBequette91) February 12, 2021
We’ve already raised over $100,000, and 100% of net donations will go directly to struggling small businesses.
Click to donate & nominate now! https://t.co/SeAHkSKblq
A Little Rock native, Bequette played for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 2007 to 2011. During his college career, he was an All-SEC selection. He was subsequently drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2012 NFL drafts as the 90thoverall pick.
Bequette retired from the NFL after earning a championship ring with the Patriots for the 2014 Super Bowl.
He subsequently joined the U.S. Army, and according to MSN.com, had his final day of active military service in January 2020.
More information on the Arkansas Fund can be found here.
READ MORE: SBA Provides $200 Billion in EIDL Funding to U.S. Businesses, Nonprofits
