Twestival 2010 fundraiser

Users of the social networking site Twitter may be part of a massive fundraising initiative next week.

Charleston on March 25 will be one of about 300 cities worldwide to participate in Twestival Global 2010, a project powered by social networking that aims to raise awareness for a cause by connecting people offline who usually share odd bits of personal information and videos online.

Twestival Global, first held in 2009 as the result of a groundswell of Twitter users looking to get involved with charitable work, partners with a different nonprofit each year. Organizers for 2010 chose international humanitarian group Concern Worldwide as the event's beneficiary.

All of the proceeds from Twestival Global will go to the group and will be focused on addressing the educational needs of impoverished children. It costs just $28 for a child to attend school, according to statistics provided by the group.

"I wanted to bring Twestival to Charleston because it's a great place to live, and it would be a good reflection to give back," said Christina Lor, lead organizer for Twestival in Charleston. "It's about tying the great aspects of the Lowcountry into social media for social good."

Lor and other organizers, many of whom met on Twitter, have been planning the event since getting approval from global officials in January.

They, along with scores of Twitter users and other interested parties, will meet-up for offline fundraising efforts around town.

The Charleston edition of Twestival starts at 1 p.m., with a donation-required yoga class led by Yoga Benefits' Caryn Antos. Evening events get under way at 5:30 p.m. at Rebekah Jacob Gallery, 169-B King St. Things continue at 6:30 p.m. at The Real Estate Studio, 214 King St., with a silent auction, refreshments and entertainment. Tickets for the event cost $10 for a limited number of early birds and $15 after those passes sell out.

The inaugural Twestival Global in 2009 raised more than $250,000. A Twestival Local event last September brought in another $450,000 for various regional charities. Already this year, organizers of Twestival Global 2010 have reported more than $45,000 in money raised.

Event officials say that 100 percent of donations go to the sponsored nonprofit as opposed to overhead costs and other expenses. In an effort to meet that goal this year, Twestival has partnered with PayPal, which is allowing supporters to donate via widgets, waiving all fees up to $1 million. Citrix Online has donated GoToMeeting to all Twestival organizers, and German-based ticketing company Amiando will waive all credit card ticketing fees to events.

In addition to the offline events on March 25, Twestival will extend its online reach on TwestivalFM, Auction140 and with the introduction of an iPhone application, among other things. Twestival also has partnered with Ustream to live stream the day's events, starting in New Zealand and ending in Hawaii.

Lor and other organizers are also hoping to host a Twestival Local later this year. But the more immediate goal is to have independent gatherings such as the one next week coalesce into a global force.

"One tweet is powerful," Lor said. "It can start a movement."