All Over Albany

A handful of local crowdfunding projects

All sorts of Kickstarter/GoFundMe/Indiegogo projects float by us from time to time.

Here are a handful of recent ones you that might catch your interest...

This is not a comprehensive list.

Sentinel Butchery - going for $20,000 on GoFundMe
"My name is Emily Petersen, I am a whole animal butcher. I want to put a butcher shop in Troy NY called "The Sentinel Butchery" using local farms and slaughter houses. My goal is to source from ethical, sustainable, humane farms that pasture raise animals without the use of growth promotants and preventative antibiotics. I believe an animal should have a life worth living before it's slaughtered for consumption. We will be breaking down whole carcasses using the time honored, traditional hoof to horn techniques that have almost been lost in our modern food systems."

(We've been in contact with Petersen and we're hoping hear more about what she's planning soon.)

Hamilton Hill Arts Center - going for $25,000 on GoFundMe
"ArtReach saves lives. Literally. The Hamilton Hill neighborhood is noted for violence and drug-related activity. The Hamilton Hill Arts Center is a safe haven, providing a creative, culturally-supportive environment. Hundreds of children of all races are introduced to the arts and creative programming, mentored by positive role models, and encouraged to pursue paths that lead to positive contributions to the community."

Send a YouthFX Crew to LA Film Fest - going for $5,000 on GoFundMe
"We just found out that one of our Youth FX films, FALLING, has been accepted to the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival! FALLING will be screened as part of the Future Filmmakers Showcase, which also includes a day of workshops and mentoring for the directors of selected films. This is a big deal for us, and a huge opportunity for our youth filmmakers, and the Youth FX program. We're asking for your support to get to LA Film Fest to particpate in this incredible and unique opportunity! We need at least $5000 to send our Youth FX crew to LA Film Fest, which is one of the largest film festivals in the country. LAFF attracts over 75,000 people to screenings, events and workshops over the course of 5 days. "

The 46ers Film - going for $15,000 on IndieGoGo
"This documentary tells the stories of ordinary men and women who have done the extraordinary. What draws these people? It is not all beautiful views and comfortable conditions because climbing these mountains is tough. The journey can be treacherous, even life threatening, yet these individuals persevere. The allure to reach the top is fueled by more than just a casual interest; rather, there is a force of nature which calls them home. Ultimately, love triumphs the physical challenges of hiking - love between the mountains and the people who hike them. Through this heart of care and concern, the 46ers provide incredible volunteer work and extensive education to help preserve these precious resources. This film chronicles the history of the 46ers and tells the stories of those individuals who have made this journey."

(We mentioned this project a year ago. This looks like it's second go-around for crowdfunding.)

The Free School 45K for 45Years - going for $45,000 on IndieGoGo
"The Free School is an internationally recognized model of child-centered, community based education and has inspired others to start their own democratic schools around the world. Despite this distinction, we have struggled financially, yet remain committed to never turning away families due to financial reasons. Over the past 4 years our operating costs have risen dramatically and more and more families are in need of tuition assistance."

UPSTATE DIARY Print Edition, Issue ONE. - going for $11,000 on IndieGoGo
"So I started to reach out to artists and creators whom I admired, whom lived upstate, to discover what was going on in their minds & lives. In the process, I created photo essays and engaged in powerful, insightful and intimate one-on-one conversations with some amazing talent ... And thus, Upstate Diary was born; Set in the sanctuaries, homes and work spaces of these creators and presenting the reader with their most private thoughts. I have learned that we all need to be inspired, whether we are creatively inclined or not, and that on this earth we all share passion, conflicts, dreams, struggle and insecurities - this is life itself."

The Lucky Jukebox Brigade - going for $6,000 on IndieGoGo
"On our last record, Familiar Fevers, we did all of the recording ourselves and sent the post-production to Mike Watts for mixing and mastering. After working with him briefly, we developed a creative bond, and now we are fortunate enough to be able to work with him as the producer of this next effort. Mike Watts is an incredible talent who has worked with some of our musical heroes--The Dear Hunter, As Tall As Lions, The Chariot, Tides of Man, and many others. We can't possibly tell you how excited we are for him to put his signature on our new music."

PiSoC: Learn to Create - going for $15,000 on Kickstarter
"The PiSoC is a way for you to create incredibly complex things, without incredibly complex code. It makes creating electronics fun and easy. At it's core, the PiSoC is an electronics development platform that allows your software to interact with the physical world. These interactions can be extremely complex and sophisticated in their outcome, but making it happen can be exceedingly simple (or not! it is really up to you!)"

Scotty's Kitchen on the Lane - going for $15,000 on Kickstarter
"My vision is to bring to downtown Albany its first and only whole food restaurant. To make available an affordable healthy approach to dining."