A couple months back I was presented with an opportunity to organize a great charity event in Toronto called TwestivalTO. The first “Twestival”, or “Twitter festival”, was held in London, England this past September. The party raised money for a local charity, and was such a success that the organizers decided to do it on a global scale. On February 12th, 2009, cities all around the world held their Twestivals for charity: water (the charity of choice), with global sponsors like Amiando and TipJoy as well as organizers in cities from NYC to Paris to Toronto. Sarah Prevette and I were lucky enough to play a leading role in Toronto’s participation and the experience was something I’ll never forget.
In the end, Twestival went down on February 12th in over 120 cities around the world. The Toronto event was a huge success – nearly 600 people attended and we raised over $10,000 for charity: water. Suffice it to say that I saw, first-hand, how a great event for a great cause can move Torontonians to care for, give to, and help the people around them. When I was presented with the opportunity to get involved with Pay It Backward Day, naturally, I said yes!
You can expect some of the same magic that we saw from TwestivalTO, back again with Pay It Backward TO. I’ve managed to wrangle in a few of the magicians from Twestival (@casiestewart and @skanwar) and recruit a few more of my favourite web personalities. Toronto has pulled off events like this before (TwestivalTO for example) and I’m really hoping that with Pay It Backward Day, we can solidify this city as one of the world’s most active and kind.
On February 12th, a handful of Do Gooders, the Daily Challenge team and a whole nest of Twitter folks descended upon the lavish digs at CiRCA for Twestival Toronto. And we rocked the T-Dot!
The scene had a magnificent, Bob Marley, feel-good vibe - and it wasn’t the shine from the free Molson beer! Everyone was smiling and networking, and many Tweeples met online Twitter friends face-to-face for the first-time!
Check it out with this 3 and a half minute video of Testival Toronto:
The Daily Challenge team had a blast at this event and we are honoured to have been one of the media sponsors. We can’t WAIT for the next Twitter event!
Only 2 more days until Twestival! If you still need a little persuasion to come party at this amazing charity event for a good cause, maybe Jennifer Connelly can convince you?
Did you know that over a billion (with a “B”) people all over the world go without access to clean and safe drinking water everyday.
Well up until recently neither did I. Thanks to the folks at Twestival now I not only am more educated about this very important global issue, but also have specific actions I can take to do my part in finding a solution to this massive problem.
I first heard about Twestival from our Creative Director Verne who sent me a link and said it would be right up my alley. Shortly thereafter a friend of mine and fellow Do Gooder Casie Stewart called me (actually I think it was that same day) and told me that Twestival was coming to Toronto and that Daily Challenge had to get involved because it represented everything we stood for.
Last Thursday, we announced that a few good people on Twitter decided to leverage the power of their social network to create social change. The end result is Twestival, a major fund-raising event being held in over 175 cities across the globe to help bring clean water to people in developing countries.
Here is a 1:30 minute video of Scott Harrison, founder of charity: water, thanking Twestival for their support:
Using social media for social change has become a trend we hope never ends! Twestival is the latest fund-raising event leveraging the power of social networking as a means to Do Good. On Thursday, February 12th, people in over 175 cities who use the popular micro-blogging site, Twitter, will gather to raise money for charity: water.
“We’re thrilled that the Twitter community around the world is coming together to bring clean, safe drinking water to those in need by raising funds and awareness with an event on the scale of Twestival,” says charity:water. “This is an amazing opportunity to bring the cause and its message to a global community.”
Organized by and for Twitter users, Twestival is an off-line charity event that looks to “Tweet. Meet. Give”. Major cities, including London, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Beijing, Sydney, Melbourne and Lima are signed up and ready to go. At the time of this writing, Toronto Twestival 2009 is just one city out of more than 175 cities participating.
This is the official blog for Do Gooders. It is the vehicle for the Daily Challenge story and the tool to get you directly involved in the project so you can become part of the story, too.
Using social media for social change has become a trend we hope never ends! 
