JACKSONVILLE, Ala. — Crowdfunding sites are often used to help individuals raise large sums of money online for a variety of causes, from mission trips to service projects to medical bills. An Alabama man, however, chose to crowdfund to raise $10 for a 20 pc. McNugget Meal from McDonald’s.
The GoFundMe page of Michael Panik, a student at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, rivetingly explains the beauty of the conquest of this chicken nugget meal.
“Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to do something truly great in life. Each human on this earth has potential for greatness; to achieve their goals. I am no different. My name is Michael Panik, and I WILL devour a 20pc Chicken McNugget Meal from McDonald’s restaurant,” Panik’s GoFundMe says.
Panik explained the motivations behind the campaign in an interview with Rise News, saying that crowdfunding sites have become teeming with lucrative campaigns, and his recent chicken campaign highlights that.
“A friend and I were talking about all the ridiculous GoFundMe campaigns we’ve seen recently, basically people just asking for money to buy personal stuff: new equipment, software,” Panik said. “It’s pretty rude, honestly, just begging for money for things you want or need, that ultimately aren’t super expensive, and aren’t true necessities.”
Panik’s GoFundMe goal was met in a matter of hours by a man named Michael Brown.
“Michael Brown is a truly beautiful soul, devoted to philanthropy, and has the highest honor in my heart,” Panik said. “I sincerely hope to make him proud by using his generous donation to achieve my supreme goal.”
While Panik achieved success on his chicken nugget campaign, he also expressed frustration with the crowdfunding concept because of past failure to raise money for a cause that actually was important to him: $10,000 to create and produce a documentary.
However, Panik continues with his 20 piece McNugget meal campaign, hoping to raise even more awareness of crowdfunding ideas, both good and bad. A recent update on Panik’s GoFundMe page includes a new challenge to possible donors:
“Help me continue to grow and develop as a person as I beg you for money. Please consider helping this project reach new heights. For every $10 more that I raise, I’ll purchase ANOTHER 20pc meal to share with friends. If we continue, we can feed the world, and bring people together around that most American of meals: the 20pc Chicken McNugget meal,” the update from Panik reads.
While Panik supports using GoFundMe and other similar crowdfunding sites in the right way and for the right reasons, he says that he hopes his chicken nugget campaign encourages people to not simply ask others for money on nonessential items.
“I’m so glad my Chicken McNugget scheme kind of took off just in my network, honestly, Panik said. “I’d love to see more people find this, and realize that maybe, if you want something, you should spend less time asking people for money, and going out there, working, and getting it for yourself.”
https://twitter.com/caseycappa/status/634418932192030720
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