Watch this video on: Vimeo | YouTube | Facebook

or as an iPhone-friendly downloadable .M4V

We just launched our first fundraising campaign on Kickstarter.com! This is exciting for us, but, for me anyway, it’s also a little bit terrifying.

I’ve never had a baby, but I can imagine the fear and worry that must go through the head of the father, pacing back and forth in the waiting room while the mom goes into labor. Will the baby be born healthy? Will the mom have any problems? Will there be any complications?

It must be scary letting your baby out into the world for the first time; letting her stand up to the judgment of others; knowing that her fate is no longer solely in your own hands.

I worry about things. I worry, did I word everything right? Did I pick the right imagery? Do people care enough about our cause to open up their wallets and support us?

Up until now, it’s been easy to tell myself that people do indeed care enough, that we will find enough supporters to make this dream become a reality. That was up until now. Now is when we’re forced to test this theory, and that gets my heart beating faster.

I’m an optimistic guy. I’ve been optimistic about this project, and I know it will happen, no matter what. Because I won’t quit. I won’t allow it to not happen. And we have a board of directors that are equally strong of will. But now’s the moment that the optimism gets put to the test.

Here’s how Kickstarter works: people post a project they’d like to do, but need money for. Other people interested in seeing the project come to fruition pledge money to the cause. If the project reaches its goal by the deadline, then the donor gets charged and the project gets funded. But here’s the biggie: if the project doesn’t reach its goal by the deadline, it gets nothing.

Our goal is $50,000, in order to build a school on our property. Our deadline is March 14, Central Standard Time. If we don’t reach the goal by then, we get nothing.

And that’s terrifying.

If we’re successful with this fundraiser, though, it’s very exciting, and will allow us to open our doors that much sooner. I can’t wait for that day.