Twitter has become a service that has taken the world by storm, it is being used by politicians such as Mayor of Toronto David Miller, basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal, and a host of companies across Canada have found value in using the service. Tonight, February 12, 2009 will be another memorable night for all those using Twitter as they gather in cities across the world to help raise money for a worthy cause. I recently caught up with Sarah Prevette (Founder of RedNation) who has volunteered her time and company resources to organize the Toronto stop in this online and offline cause.
DF – What is Twestival?
SP – Twestival is about people around the world are coming together, with Twitter helping mobilize us, for a global cause – joining dozens of cities around the world for one night of festivities, fund raising and fun. It’s a tweetup with global reach and worldwide impact!
On February 12th, 100+ cities will be throwing an event with 100% of all tickets sales being donated directly to charity: water http://www.charitywater.org to build wells in developing nations and bring access to safe drinking water to the 1.1 billion currently without.
The goal of Twestival is raise awareness about water crisis around the world and make people think about their own relationship with water here at home. We’re encouraging the community to share tips, tricks, and facts that will help people realize the ways in which we unthinkingly waste water, and the ways in which we can conserve it.
DF – Who do you expect will attend?
SP - We’re expecting geeks, marketers, web junkies, social entrepreneurs and folks from all walks of Toronto-life!
DF – What can attendees expect from the night?
SP – Attendees of Twestival can expect networking, drinking, great music and dancing! With giant screens showing #twestivalto tweets real time, guests can connect, post photos and enter to win an assortment of great prizes like iPhone apps, skins, hoodies and even a new flip camcorder!
We have received amazing ideas from the Twitter community and attendees can definitely expect a good time. One of the great ideas proposed was a “community fair” element, where organizations who have harnessed social media to perform social good can set up a booth to highlight their initiatives. While Twestival is about heightening awareness about the water crisis globally and raising funds for charity: water , its also about social media mobilizing charitable giving and provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight the other wonderful work we’re doing locally, here in Toronto.
DF – Come on, it is really taking place in 180+ cities around the world?
SP – Twestival was a concept brought forward by a small group of people in the U.K. who, through using Twitter , organized a gathering in 2008 and raised money for a local charity. Seeing the potential impact of communities everywhere coming together for a global cause, they set about reaching out to people in different cities to come together to support charity: water With only days of learning about the cause, everyday citizens of 100+ cities came forward to lend their support locally in their own community. Volunteers who saw the potentially incredible impact that could be made if people could work together on a local level to collaborate internationally!
On February 12th over 180+ cities will be hosting their own events to heighten awareness about the water crisis and raise funds for charity: water. By participating in Twestival Toronto, you’re participating in a grassroots global movement bring real change to people who are desperately in need.
DF – What is RedWire?
SP – RedWire is an online community where entrepreneurs connect, collaborate and knowledge-share. Members participate in groups and events as well as post their own. Check out RedWireNation.com!
DF – How has Twitter had an impact on RedWire?
SP – Being able to reach out and engage with Twitter’s established community has helped us cultivate and grow our own network and has provided great exposure to the RedWire initiative. It provides an incredible medium to participate in global dialogues on entrepreneurship and understand how we might evolve to further help business owners connect and collaborate.
RedWire will be launching some new functionality next month that we think will definitely resonate with our Twitter-experienced members – we’ve been working hard behind the scenes and are looking forward to receiving our users feedback.!
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