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.

Toronto Twitter partyers will be hooking up at CiRCA and can expect a DJ, photo booth, video and livestreaming of Twestivals around the world! Tickets are $25 and 100% of the proceeds go directly to `charity: water’, a not-for-profit that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

From a recent Twestival Toronto press release:

“Twestival Toronto will be a great way for local people who are connected on Twitter to meet offline, have some fun, and support an important cause,” said Sarah Prevette, event organizer for Twestival Toronto. “And even if you’re not on Twitter, come out for drinks, music and dancing, and to support charity: water.”

Amanda Rose, one of the organizers of Twestival, said, “We’re already blown away by the global reception and how keen people are to invest their time and energy for free to the Twestival and get behind charity: water. Social tweet-ups like this are a great way to meet the faces behind those avatars while raising a lot of money for a fantastic cause.”

Here’s some important information and links for Torontonians:

Buy your tickets: Twestival TO tickets
Sign up on the Facebook Event page: TwestivalTO Facebook Event
Keep up-to-date by following Twestival TO on Twitter

So you in, Do Gooders?