PledgeMe: Half a Million Helping Hands

Half a Million Helping Hands

Yesterday, PledgeMe hit the half million dollar mark pledged to creative projects in New Zealand.

The half million dollar mark was hit overnight, with a pledge made to “Get Michelle to Chicago”. Michelle Savill’s New Zealand Film Commission funded short called “Ellen is Leaving” was accepted into the Chicago Film Festival. Unable to fund flights to get there herself, Michelle went to her crowd of supporters to ask for help. And they did - not only was the pledge overnight what tipped PledgeMe closer to a million, but it also took her over her goal and funded her project.

“It feels awesome to be supporting such a wide range of projects” says PledgeMe co-founder Anna Guenther, “We’ve had everyone from bands to illustrators to sports teams coming through to crowfund their projects - and hitting half a million pledged proves that somethings working!”

The range of projects on PledgeMe is huge, with musicians making up one of the larger groups using it as a tool to support their creative work. “As an independent band with a lofty goal of raising $20,000 to record in the States, crowdfunding is really the only way to make this happen” says half of the Tattletale Saints pair, Vanessa McGowan, who is currently crowdfunding.

Not only are up and coming artists tapping into their crowds, but PledgeMe has seen the likes of Duncan Sarkies, Lawrence Arabia, Jemaine Clement, and now Sir Richard Taylor all funding quirky projects. Not only is the Weta master finishing off The Hobbit, but Sir Richard Taylor is crowdfunding to break the world record of the most sand castles built in one hour, all in the name of the Neonatal Trust.

pledgeme.co.nz | twitter.com/pledgeme

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