In a light-hearted crowdfunding attempt, an Ohio man managed to raise $55,000 from strangers so he could buy supplies to make his first potato salad. That same man gave back the money he raised by throwing an enormous public party Saturday that he promised would be all about "peace, love and potato salad."

Zack Brown posted a humorous $10 goal on Kickstarter in July so he could buy potato salad ingredients. In a manner of viral spontaneity, Brown's venture earned global attention and raised tens of thousands of dollars.

Kickstarter is a website for startup creatives to open their ideas to outside investors. A recent notable Kickstarter campaign included actor Zac Braff's successful funding of his new film, "Wish I Was Here."

While a breakdown of where the money originated shows Brown's home state of Ohio contributed the largest portion, people in New York, California and Texas, among others, all pitched in. His Kickstarter campaign drew 4.1 million page views and more than 7,000 backers before the donation period ended.

To celebrate this surprising generosity, Brown planned PotatoStock 2014 in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The event featured food trucks, beer vendors, live music and the guest of honor, plenty of potato salad. The celebration, open to people of all ages, provided more than 3,000 pounds of potatoes.

Corporate sponsors such as the Idaho Potato Commission donated the potato salad supplies for the event.

Brown partnered PotatoStock with the Columbus Foundation that supports local charities that fight hunger and homelessness. The account was opened with $20,000 in post-campaign donations from companies and PotatoStock proceeds added an additional $18,000 donation.

"His fund will have potential way after this potato salad is forgotten," the foundation's director of donors and development, Lisa Folley, said to the Columbia Dispatch.

The Dispatch also reported that Brown said he wants to use this newfound fame to "do the most good that I can."

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