On Thursday, cities around the world will host Twestival, or Twitter Festival, which utilizes social media for social good by connecting communities to raise funds and awareness for local causes.

Twestival is the largest global grassroots social media fundraising initiative to date. Since 2009, volunteers have raised almost $1.2 million for 137 non-profit groups. Local events are organized by volunteers and 100 per cent of ticket sales and donations go directly to the featured projects.

Kristi Ferguson of 91原创鈥檚 Double You Business Services, Teri Conrad of Red Barn Group and Caree Bray of Dominion Lending, the hosts of Twestival Fraser Valley, have picked the new Canuck Place Children鈥檚 Hospice being built in Abbotsford as this year鈥檚 beneficiary.

Twestival takes place at the Coast Hotel and Convention Centre in 91原创 City, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For tickets, go to www.amiando.com/Twestival2011_fraservalley.html.

In Vancouver, Canada, Accra, Ghana, Bangalore, India and many places in between people, most of who have originally connected online will gather in support of this initiative.