Webcam - @bitpakkit talking Twestival

TWITTER USERS CREATE GLOBAL GRASSROOTS EFFORT THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKING

Twestival, a Worldwide Fundraiser, comes to Ottawa February 12, 2009

OTTAWA, February 4, 2009 — On February 12, 2009 Ottawa will join over 184 cities across the globe bringing people together through the social networking service, Twitter, to raise money and awareness for charity: water – a non-profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations by funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need.
Twestival is just one of many fundraisers that come to life each year through Twitter and the power of social networking. By globally taking a stand and joining together to raise money and awareness, Twitter fans volunteer their time and 100% of all donations will reach charity: water. Twestival expects to raise $500,000 worldwide.
The Ottawa event, which will coincide with events the world over will feature local musicians, comedians and lots of goodies for grabs through a silent auction. The night will kick-off at 7 p.m. at Suite 34, 34 Clarence Street in the Byward Market area. This event is supported and brought together by local businesses and social networkers, including Ben Watson of Overlay.TV, Ryan Anderson of Fat Canary Communications, and Kevin Waghorn, an Ottawa-based event organizer.
In true Twitter fashion, the event will be broadcast through the Twitter wall app that projects tweets on the big screen, keeping the community connected and up to date on the latest and greatest in 140 characters or less. The live event will also connect with other Twestival participants around the world through live video and audio.
“We’re starting to see the true power of social networking,” says Ben Watson, known on Twitter as @bitpakkit, the Ottawa Twestival Producer. “It’s not about chatting with people you haven’t seen since high school or seeing how many friends you can get online. This is the power of global connection to self-organize and do good for the world without any overhead – 100% of the funds raised from these events are going directly to help people – no administrative costs, no ads to pay for.”
Many companies active in social media both locally and internationally are helping to make the event a reality. Twestival.fm expects to raise an additional $20,000 in just two Twitter weeks by requesting musicians who use Twitter to donate tracks. Further donations will come from the Twestival T-shirt design competition, hosted by Desired Hearts. T-shirts will be sold at the event.  The main sponsor for the night is Overlay.TV who has paid for the venue, staff is covering most of the technology needs, making the event possible.
“Social media and tools like Twitter are a big part of Overlay.TV’s DNA,” Rob Lane, CEO of Overlay.TV says. “Our company is very active in social media as a way of engaging with our community and we were very proud and excited about the opportunity to link our hometown up with 184 other cities around the world to help out with one of the major problems – the supply of clean, drinkable water.”
A new well costs $4,000 and offers hope and life to an entire village of people. With over 175 Twitter cities involved, Twestival expects to change the lives of thousands and thousands of people in need.

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Contact: Ryan Anderson For Immediate Release

Tel: (613) 266-9041

Email: ryan@fatcanary.ca

Welcome to Twestival. Here in Ottawa the team at Overlay.TV, including bitpakkit, roblane, sassymonkey as well as local Ottawa PR dude, Ryan Anderson, from Fat Canary are working hard to pull the event together.

If you have an idea for the event, or have something to add, please DM or @ one of us on Twitter.  We are already working on getting Stephen Harper to DJ or go-go dance, so that’s covered.

We will post more details over the weekend.  It’s sure to be a capital affair.