Entrepreneur And Chideo Founder Todd Wagner Acquires Prizeo, A Celebrity-Based Charity Platform
By connecting leading digital fundraising sites, Wagner will strengthen his network of cause-content platforms
LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Todd Wagner, CEO and founder of Chideo, announced the acquisition of Prizeo – a celebrity-based charitable fundraising platform – expanding his commitment to blend entertainment and technology to revolutionize the philanthropic space. Prizeo will serve as a sister company to Chideo, strengthening the cause network's already impressive roster of exclusive content, experiences, celebrities, and charities, all to raise awareness and funds for hundreds of nonprofit organizations across the globe.
Prizeo is a groundbreaking digital fundraising platform that enables influencers to use technology to mobilize their fan base to raise maximum amounts of funding and awareness for their chosen causes. In just two and a half years, the charity platform has run over 100 crowdfunding sweepstakes featuring unique celebrity experiences, resulting in millions of dollars being raised for nearly 100 charities around the world. Prizeo will continue to operate as its own entity in West Hollywood, CA.
"Prizeo brings us increased credibility as it is a proven experiences platform with a roster of great celebrities supported by a very strong team," said Todd Wagner. "This means immediate synergy with Chideo, whose growing syndication partners and multiple fundraising streams will be able to extend Prizeo's reach, and allow both companies to make a real impact on cause everywhere."
The deal is also significant for the philanthropic space, because of Wagner's background. He helped pioneer the streaming media landscape in the late 90s as CEO of Broadcast.com, and now his focus on Chideo has allowed him to consider how charities and celebrities can leverage this same basic technology to bring heightened awareness and support to causes across the world. The multi-platform broadcast network offers users exclusive video content, as well as, a fundraising platform to distribute original cause-centric content.
"Chideo's goal from day one has been to provide the necessary tools and platform to maximize awareness and dollars for charities. The current system of giving is largely offline and inefficient resulting in an older demographic of givers, which, ultimately, is not meeting the needs of the next generation of donors," noted Wagner. "Since only 8% of money donated to charities occurs online, it is clear that the digital landscape is still a largely untapped tool in fundraising. We will continue making deals and partnerships like this one as long as we keep bridging the gap."
The acquisition of Prizeo is the second significant deal made this year to expand Chideo's reach. Wagner's vision of a unique '"over-the-top" broadcast network approach for the philanthropic arena was made clear last month when Chideo announced an exclusive, one-of-a-kind partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. This partnership expanded the charity network's reach to 42 million households through 161 stations nationwide. Through this distribution deal, Sinclair will connect its broadcast and digital audiences with Chideo's inspirational and entertaining content – all to benefit the world's leading charities.
ABOUT CHIDEO
Chideo (chideo.com) is the first and only charity broadcast network connecting celebrities with their fans in the spirit of driving awareness and raising money for important causes around the world. Chideo serves as a multi-platform network offering users exclusive video content, as well as the opportunity to meet and interact with some of their favorite personalities from the worlds of entertainment, sports, music, fashion, food, design and culture. Chideo also offers a dedicated platform to distribute original cause-focused content via TV, web and mobile app.
The network is currently home to more than 110 ambassadors including President Bill Clinton, Patricia Arquette, Bradley Cooper, Morgan Freeman, LL Cool J, Chris Paul, Debby Ryan and many more, along with 100+ of the world's leading non-profits such as the American Heart Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Easter Seals, and Feeding America. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Todd Wagner founded Chideo in 2014.
For up-to-the-minute news and announcements from Chideo personalities, please follow Chideo on Facebook at Facebook.com/chideodotcom or on Twitter @chideo.
ABOUT PRIZEO
Celebrity digital fundraising platform Prizeo was launched at the end of 2012 and is dedicated to the principle that influential personalities can maximize both the funds and awareness they raise for charity on an inclusive platform that gives their fans the chance to win unique experiences while contributing to meaningful causes.
Prizeo campaigns featuring celebrities including One Direction, Mark Ruffalo, Will Ferrell, U2, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Samuel L. Jackson, George R.R. Martin, Ed Sheeran, Mariah Carey, Zac Efron, Tyler Oakley and Kobe Bryant have shown the immense power of social media to raise funds and awareness for charitable causes. A 2013 campaign featuring One Direction's Harry Styles and Liam Payne raised nearly $800,000 for cancer research and prevention programs.
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SOURCE Todd Wagner, Chideo Founder
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