March 28, 2011

Vancouver Twestival Raises Over $8K for Beauty Night Society

Note: I originally wrote this blog post for SFU Volunteer Services, where I’m currently employed as a Social Media Specialist. To view the original post, visit the ENGAGE blog.

Last Thursday, March 24, social media enthusiasts in Vancouver headed to the Vancouver Lookout to socialize and to support a good cause. Twestival is a fundraising event that brings together Twitter users to support a local cause.Now on its fourth year, Vancouver Twestival selected Beauty Night Society as the recipient of this year’s proceeds.

The event raised over $8000, all of which will go towards supporting Beauty Night’s life makeover programs. Beauty Night, a non-profit that we’ve featured in the ENGAGE blog before, provides programs for marginalized women and youth in the downtown eastside. Recently, the organization celebrated its 10^th year anniversary.

As a first time attendee, I was really impressed by this event. We were treated to a stunning view, superb food & drinks, and a super fun photobooth. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson also addressed the crowd and praised the organizers for a great event.

Beauty Night founder Caroline MacGillivray also gave a short speech to thank attendees and to talk about the organization’s mission.

SFU was well-represented at the event. Christina Buiza and Grace Yang of AIESEC SFU and Communication students Richard Loat, Maggie Chan, and Jacky Chui were some familiar faces I saw.

SFU Information Officer Dixon Tam was also there, and so was Trina Isakson, former SFU Volunteer Services Coordinator and a panelist at the upcoming Working for the Non-Profit Sector panel.

The success of Twestival Vancouver is a great testament to the vibrant social community here in the city. On the same night, other twestivals around the world raised funds for local organizations; here in Canada, social media enthusiasts opened their wallets and raised over $64,000, the most for any country in the world this year.

If you didn’t make it to the event, I encourage you to check out the Twestival website or to visit the Beauty Night Website to see how you can donate or volunteer.

Photo credit: JeremyLim.ca