Private fund launches to help save Ontario restaurants and bars

Ontario – Hockey legend Daryl Sittler is endorsing a private-sector Restaurant & Bar Support Fund, which looks to raise funds to help Ontario restaurants, bars, pubs, pool halls and sports bars in reopening and recovering from the financial setbacks of the pandemic.

The Restaurant & Bar Support Fund is a registered not-for-profit established by concerned individuals who do not want to see the predicted numbers of closures and bankruptcies in Ontario’s food and beverage sector. A recent Restaurant Canada survey found that nearly half of food service operators expect to permanently close their establishment within six months if conditions do not improve.

Sittler is enthusiastic about the Fund: “This is a great initiative to help our local restaurants, pubs, and sport bars that mean so much both to our neighbourhoods and communities. These small establishment owners are finding it very challenging right now. We hope the grant money will make a difference for them.”

Priority is being given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to their staff and neighbourhood.

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Qualified applicants will receive a one-time grant of up to $5,000 to assist them in the reopening of their business. Priority is being given to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to their staff and neighbourhood.

“Our fund will pay out one-time grants to these businesses so that they can keep their doors open, keep staff employed, and keep the smiles on their customers’ faces,” said Tony Carvalho, a founding member of the fund. This is a grant – it’s not a loan. It doesn’t need to be repaid.”

The goals for the Fund over the next 12 months are to raise $5 million and to assist a minimum of 1,000 Ontario food and beverage businesses. All money received by the fund will be distributed.

The Restaurant & Bar Support Fund website has full details for both businesses looking for assistance and for donors looking to contribute to the Fund at RestaurantandBarSupportFund.ca.

There is a GoFundMe page for patrons who wish to donate: gofundme.com/ontario-restaurant-and-bar-support-fund.

There are also corporate partnership opportunities with the Fund. For more information, contact Tony Carvalho at tonyc@rabsfund.ca or 416.276.5663.