Updated 11 Feb, 2012, 4:06 pm IST

175 Cities Worldwide Gear up For Twestival

09 Mar, 2010, 4:15 pm IST | tech2 News Staff |

On March 25, 2010, in more than 175 cities around the world, thousands of people will demonstrate social media's power for social good through the second annual Twestival. The global event is a worldwide fundraising initiative that uses social media, particularly Twitter, to focus participants' talent and resources to benefit one cause for one day. All proceeds generated from the 2010 Twestival will support education and be donated to Concern Worldwide, a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organization that since 1968 has dedicated itself to reducing suffering and eliminating poverty.

"Organizing online and gathering offline allows Twestival to harness the incredible communication power of Twitter to propel participation in real events around the world," said Amanda Rose, founder of Twestival. "There is no shortage of people who are passionate and want to help. The challenge is coordination, not participation. By using social media platforms such as Twitter, Twestival is able to connect hundreds of independent local events into a powerful global initiative. At last year's Twestival, more than 1,000 volunteers and 10,000 donors raised more than $250,000 to provide clean and safe drinking water for more than 17,000 people. We know this works—and we're excited to make it work for every child in the world that deserves an education."

In order to better meet a goal of 100 percent donation, Twestival's all-volunteer organizers have partnered with PayPal, which will allow supporters to donate via widgets, waiving all fees up to $1 million. In addition Citrix Online will donate GoToMeeting to all those who are organizing Twestival events, and Amiando will waive all credit card ticketing fees to Twestival events, allowing for 100 percent of money raised to benefit Concern Worldwide projects directly.

"An estimated 72 million children worldwide are not enrolled in school," said Tom Arnold, CEO of Concern Worldwide. "Concern is committed to reaching those left behind, giving them access to learning and the chance to break out of the cycle of poverty. Twestival Global is revolutionizing the way concerned citizens all over the world connect to benefit the poorest among us. We are thrilled to have been chosen, and we're rolling up our sleeves to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity."

In addition to the offline events on March 25, Twestival also will extend its online reach with such activities as TwestivalFM, allowing high-profile artists and musicians around the world to donate their songs to download for donations; Auction140, a global online auction of celebrity-donated items and experiences on eBay that will feature a live Twitter stream for the first time; an iPhone application; and live donations and results widgets that will enable real-time donations at local events. Twestival also has partnered with Ustream to live stream the day's events, starting in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii.

RIM’s once widely accepted Blackberry smartphones face another setback. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has revealed that it would