A crowdfunding effort to raise money to send young girls to screenings of Marvel Studios’ first female-led film, “Captain Marvel,” has hit more than $60,000 — three times the amount organizers initially sought.
The GoFundMe campaign had raised more than $61,000 as of Wednesday evening after asking for $20,000 for its effort to rent out theaters in Los Angeles to allow underprivileged girls to see the movie.
“Everyone should have an opportunity to see women in roles they can aspire to one day be, roles that show women as strong, smart and bold,” the campaign’s organizers, Girls Inc. LA, wrote on the GoFundMe page. “From a teacher to a fighter pilot—or a superhero. This is an opportunity to continue to empower girls to be just that.”
The campaign burst through its original fundraising goal after two $10,000 donations from talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres and E! News.
Joseph was previously involved in the #BlackPantherChallenge, which raised tens of thousands of dollars to send African-American children to see Marvel’s “Black Panther.”
Additional funds raised by the GoFundMe will support both Girls Inc. and the consulting agency We Have Stories, according to an update on the fundraiser.
“Any additional funds raised outside of hosting the experience will go towards the non-profits Girls Inc. LA and We Have Stories to support programmatic efforts. Girls Inc. LA has a major growth initiative to expand services by reaching 2,000 new girls by 2020. We Have Stories continues its commitment to provide funding to underrepresented and marginalized storytellers and content creators,” the organizers wrote.
“Captain Marvel,” starring Brie Larson in the film’s titular role, will be released in cinemas nationwide on March 8.
The fundraiser was launched after Larson, tweeted that a “#CaptainMarvelChallenge is in order” in response to a teacher saying her female students wanted to take a field trip to see the movie.
At the current donation amount, the #CaptainMarvelChallenge will provide free tickets to nearly 2,000 kids.
The cost breakdown, per the organizers, is estimated to be $13 per child ticket, $13 in refreshments per child and $17 per chaperone ticket.
“Captain Marvel” is also co-directed and scored by women..