COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man who jokingly sought $10 from a crowdfunding website to pay for his first attempt at making potato salad and ended up raising $55,000 is making good on his promise to throw a huge party.
Zack Brown is planning PotatoStock 2014, an all-ages, charity-minded party Saturday in downtown Columbus featuring bands, food trucks, beer vendors, potato-sack races, and definitely potato salad.
His effort on Kickstarter in early July to buy potato salad ingredients took on a life of its own and attracted worldwide attention as the amount grew.
The 31-year-old eventually raised $55,492.
The Idaho Potato Commission and corporate sponsors have donated supplies for Brown and volunteers to whip up 300 pounds of potato salad for the event.
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The Columbus Dispatch reported that Brown partnered with the Columbus Foundation to start an endowment to aid area charities that fight hunger and homelessness.
The account, started with $20,000 in postcampaign corporate donations, will grow after proceeds from PotatoStock are added. Brown has been wooed by chefs, a literary agent, and admirers seeking selfies and hugs.
‘‘You never know what’s going to take off,’’ said Justin Kazmark, a Kickstarter spokesman.
Brown said the effort was never really about potato salad. ‘‘I think it says something about how you can spread an idea now,’’ Brown said.