New York Knicks Seek to Help Local Businesses Off the Court
*By Conor White*
The New York Knicks and its jersey sponsor, the website-building platform Squarespace, are doling out assists to four local businesses as part of the second annual "Make It Awards."
"Partnering with Squarespace to help those entrepreneurs get their businesses to the next level was something we were very interested in doing and it's been a major hit," said MSG Sports' senior vice president of business operations, Kristin Bernert, in an interview on Cheddar.
"Make It" has selected four businesses to support: Team Avo, a startup designed to connect users to therapists who fit their unique needs; Farm.One, a technology-enabled vertical farm that generates fresh produce; The Financial Gym, which helps customers improve their financial health; and Mikey Likes It, a pop culture-inspired ice cream shop that has created original flavors for Hillary Clinton and Jay-Z, among other celebs.
How are the winners selected? According to Bernert, a panel reviews the submissions and the applicants undergo a rigorous selection process.
"We had a ton of submissions this year," she said. "People saw what we did for these businesses, and so they wanted to participate."
Each winner will receive a grant of $30,000, the exact amount Squarespace founder Anthony Casalena initially had to start his company in 2003.
Bernert said applications are open to any kind of organization, as long as it meets two criteria.
"If you're making a difference in people's lives, and building a business, it's a no brainer," she said.
Because hey, who doesn't like free money?
"It's the marketing exposure, plus $30,000. Who wouldn't love that?" Bernert said.
"There's also the recognition at the Garden ー to be able to go to a Knicks game and have Mikey Likes It out there. There's no way in another space you'd be able to do that."
In addition to the grant and exposure, each business receives one-on-one mentoring from one of the contest's judges, as well as on-court recognition at a Knicks game.
"Apparently if you can make it here you can make it anywhere," Bernert said.
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/new-york-knicks-and-squarespace-dish-out-assists-to-local-businesses).
Merriam-Webster has fully revised its popular “Collegiate” dictionary with over 5,000 new words. They include “petrichor,” “dumbphone” and “ghost kitchen.” Also “cold brew,” “rizz,” “dad bod,” “hard pass,” “cancel culture” and more.
YouTube will offer creators a way to rejoin the streaming platform if they were banned for violating COVID-19 and election misinformation policies that are no longer in effect.
Lukas Alpert of MarketWatch explores how networks, brands, and ad buyers absorb the shockwaves when late‑night show hosts are suddenly cut — and brought back.
A new poll finds U.S. adults are more likely than they were a year ago to think immigrants in the country legally benefit the economy. That comes as President Donald Trump's administration imposes new restrictions targeting legal pathways into the country. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey finds Americans are more likely than they were in March 2024 to say it’s a “major benefit” that people who come to the U.S. legally contribute to the economy and help American companies get the expertise of skilled workers. At the same time, perceptions of illegal immigration haven’t shifted meaningfully. Americans still see fewer benefits from people who come to the U.S. illegally.
Shares of Tylenol maker Kenvue are bouncing back sharply before the opening bell a day after President Donald Trump promoted unproven and in some cases discredited ties between Tylenol, vaccines and autism. Trump told pregnant women not to use the painkiller around a dozen times during the White House news conference Monday. The drugmaker tumbled 7.5%. Shares have regained most of those losses early Tuesday in premarket trading.
