On June 3rd at Midnight, the 27-day $100,000 Kickstarter campaign to save Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade will come to a close. On the morning of May 30th, the initial goal was met through small contributions from people around the world. Widespread attention from media, celebrities (Alec Baldwin, Darren Aronofsky, etc.), and, well, everybody has created a veritable flash flood of support for the 30 year old event.
“The campaign to save the 2013 Mermaid Parade has already made quite a ‘splash’ with over $100,000 raised,” says BP Markowitz. “With the Kickstarter nearing its ‘tail’ end, and things going ‘swimmingly,’ finally it is safe to say that the Mermaid Parade has its head above water. So start picking out your outfits—or lack thereof—because on June 22nd we are going to make ‘shore’ this parade is bigger and better than ever.”
In support of the grassroots campaign, Markowitz will be offering a unique reward: the top two donators to the Mermaid Parade campaign will get to ride on a special float at the front of the Parade with Marty.
“So lend a helping Fin!” says Markowitz.
The Mermaid Parade, conceived and managed by the not-for-profit arts organization Coney Island USA, is in jeopardy due to extensive Hurricane Sandy storm damage to their landmarked arts center at 1208 Surf Avenue and rising production costs. Funding the recovery and the Mermaid Parade has proven to be extremely challenging for the small organization.
“Let’s face it: we’ve had some hard times,” says parade founder Dick Zigun, speaking in Coney Island USA’s damaged headquarters, in the Kickstarter video. “Where I’m standing was up to here in floodwater—our headquarters was totally destroyed…We’re still recovering hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, and it’s just beyond us. We can’t pull it all off this year.”
To aid in the Mermaids’ effort to emerge unbowed victorious over Superstorm Sandy, the Kickstarter was launched on 5/7. With the same irreverent, free spirit that entices almost a million people to the Mermaid Parade every year, the Kickstarter campaign features rewards that run the gamut from a set of pasties (unisex) designed by contributors to your own private air-conditioned porta potty to a (literal) Freak Flag. All of which are exclusive to Kickstarter and will not be available upon the Campaign’s conclusion.
With a couple days left, the people of Brooklyn and the world have the chance to continue their unbelievable support and put the Parade on more solid ground for the future and in the process make a tax-deductible donation and get once-in-a-lifetime rewards.
The campaign is currently the most funded Public Arts Event ever on Kickstarter. The Mermaid Parade will now officially kick off at 1pm on June 22nd. This year’s King Neptune is Judah Friedlander (30 Rock) and Queen Mermaid is Carole Radziwill (Real Housewives of New York).
ABOUT:
Coney Island USA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation based in the amusement park area of the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. In existence since 1980, Coney Island USA has developed and produces a number of different programs including some of New York City’s best-loved summer programming, such as the Mermaid Parade, the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, the Coney Island Museum, Burlesque at the Beach and the Coney Island Film Festival.
