“Aquinas and More Announces $250,000 ‘Angels’ Campaign”

First Online Catholic Retailer to Launch GoFundMe Campaign

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The “Largest Online Retailer of the Catholic world” Aquinas and More today announced the launch of its Aquinas Angels Campaign, a crowdfunding campaign that runs from March 5 – March 19, 2013. The $250,000 campaign goal, one of the largest in the history of GoFundMe.com, will enable the e-Commerce retailer to return stronger than ever to its mission of serving others that originally began in 2002.

“Largest Online Retailer of the Catholic world”

In his brutally honest “mistakes I made” letter to customers dated February 23rd, Founder and President Ian Rutherford announced the closing of Aquinas and More. Detailed were nine reasons for, and contributing factors to, the closing of Aquinas. A huge outpouring of support from its 30,000 Facebook fan community and a customer base that has purchased more than 1.1 million products over the last 11 years overwhelmed Rutherford and gave him pause. Was there another alternative?

Beginning today, the Aquinas Angels campaign will let fans and followers on social media, and family and friends give a $10 “Angel” donation up to a $1000 “Seraphim” donation. For every donation, Aquinas will “give back” with incentives including: a 15% discount coupon, laminated custom prayer cards, the entire library of Aquinas Catholic Classic e-books and free shipping, among others. Monies raised will replenish online inventory, overhaul the website and enable Aquinas to continue to offer authentically Catholic products, projects and policies.

“I realized that Aquinas and More is not just a Catholic store - it’s a way of life. We are authentically Catholic in all that we offer - our policies, products and projects. We are the only place where you’ll find a Good Faith Guarantee policy and the only Catholic online retailer with an Anti-China policy. Despite flat sales, we decided we weren’t ready to call it quits and instead wanted to reach out to all who are loyal to Aquinas and ask them to support our mission,” said Rutherford.

The Aquinas Angels campaign is based on the “all-or-nothing” crowdfunding model. The campaign goal to raise $250,000 will be conducted over a two-week period with funds earmarked to include retaining its excellent customer service and results. If the goal is not met, angel donations won’t be processed.

For daily updates on the Aquinas Angels campaign, visit its Facebook and Twitter pages.

If you would like to schedule an interview with Ian, call or email Monica Hildebrand at [phone] or [e-mail].

About Aquinas and More

Aquinas and More Catholic Goods carries thousands of products ranging from books and videos to chalices and church furnishings. In addition to the company’s Catholic products and policies, it offers numerous projects including: Military Chaplain registry, Church Supply, Tiber River, Behind the Counter Radio Show and Catholic literacy.

The Catholic e-Commerce store was started by Ian Rutherford in 2002 and is owned and operated by his family and friends. The store name comes from two famous Catholic saints, Thomas Aquinas and Thomas More. The ox head in the logo is a symbol of St. Thomas Aquinas who was called “The Dumb Ox” because he was a very quiet student, and rather large.