Twestival: Twitter users raise over $250K for charity:water

February 20, 2009 By Sandra View Comments

Twitter TwestivalIt’s been a little over a week since the Twestival and the donations are tallying up.  Over $250,000 has been raised for charity: water, a non profit organization that brings clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries.

Many of the events were small networking parties, bringing together people who normally only correspond via the web, specifically the microblogging site Twitter.  I was not able to attend any of the live events, as the closest one to me was two hours away.  But I did participate by making a small donation via the TipJoy online donation system.

(Not familiar with Twitter? Marc Pitman has a great introduction, Twitter for Nonprofits and Fundraising.  If you’re a member, or become one, follow me: @sandrasims)

Here’s a few links to the headlines that this event generated:

Twestival Raises Over $250K and Counting Amanda Rose (@Amanda), the global organizer of Twestival, discusses the results of the fundraiser and next steps.

Toronto Twestival had a rocky start planning, but on event night there were over 450 attendees and raised over $10,000 for charity: water.

L.A.’s Twestival bring hipsters, websters and Tay Zonday Los Angeles Times reports on that city’s event (@twestival_LA)

Twestival-goers meet face-to-face BBC Scotland reports on Edinburgh’s Twestival (@EdTwestival) which attracted about 250 people for live music and socializing, raising over $3500.

London Twestival: Wigs, beer and hotpants at a very real world meet-up the Guardian (@guardiannews) reports on London event

More: View entries tagged twestival via Tweetag or search for Twestival pages on Twitter.

Did you participate in the Twestival?  I’d love to hear your take on it.  Post your comments below.

Filed Under: Causes, General, Health

Blogging to Help Children Get Life Changing Surgeries

February 11, 2009 By Sandra View Comments

Interplast is an organization that champions a great cause — helping children with serious medical needs.  They provide free life-changing surgery for children and adults with cleft palette or disabling burns and hand injuries.  You can see their website here and then the blog is here.   They use the blog to share stories of the people who volunteer in the medical procedures and after care.

Kivi Leroux Miller interviewed Liliana Vazquez, Interplast’s Communications and Technology Coordinator, about their blog.  She shares what their goals are with blogging, how they get people to write posts and handle comments.  You can read that interview here: Nonprofit Blogger Q&A with One of My Favorites.

Filed Under: Causes, Health

World AIDS Day Bloggers Unite on Dec. 1

November 27, 2008 By Sandra View Comments

BlogCatalog.com is sponsoring a bloggers unite day on Monday, urging bloggers to write about the AIDS issue.  I’m still thinking of what to write, but just to start here are a few facts about AIDS.

Did you know that…

in the United States:

  • Nearly half of all AIDS cases in the U.S. involve people 13 to 24 years of age.
  • More than 250,000 are estimated to be HIV positive and not know it.
  • And more than 1 million are estimated to be living with AIDS.

around the world:

  • There are an estimated 33 million people with AIDS worldwide.
  • In 2007, HIV/AIDS killed 2.2 million people
  • 8,000 people die every day in Africa from three preventable and treatable diseases- AIDS, malaria and TB.

there are reasons for hope:

  • Antiretroviral medication to treat people living with HIV/AIDS costs as little as $140 per patient per year, down from nearly $10,000 a year less than 10 years ago.
  • Organizations such as ONE and world aids campaign continue to keep this issue top of mind with the public and governments, in order to advance research, treatment and prevention.
Filed Under: Causes, Health Tagged With: , ,
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