Capturing the "Memories" of One Million People - One Tweet at a Time~

A Million Tweets to Remember aims to be largest movement ever on Twitter

TORONTO , Sept. 21 /CNW/ - A new and unique Twitter movement launched today with the goal of revolutionizing the way social causes connect with online communities. The movement, called "A Million Tweets to Remember," (1Mtweets) seeks to digitally memorialize one million people who have lived with Alzheimer's disease (past or present) by having their loved ones tweet about them at http://1mtweets.com/. The campaign coincides with the launch of World Alzheimer's Day, a global initiative to raise awareness about Alzheimer's.

The campaign is the brainchild of Jordan Banks (http://www.1mtweets.com/about_me/), a committed philanthropist whose personal connection to the disease includes four grandparents who have all lived with Alzheimer's. More than six million people across North America are currently affected by Alzheimer's disease.

"I have seen four of my grandparents battle Alzheimer's and, in their honour, I wanted to do something monumental," says Jordan Banks . "Over the past ten years I have dedicated a significant amount of time raising money and awareness for Alzheimer's research and care, but this time around I really wanted to leverage technology in garnering substantial support around the world."

In a recent blog post(http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/09/the-problem-with-non.html), Internet marketing guru Seth Godin commented on the tremendous opportunities that exist for non-profits to tap into online social networks: "Take a look at the top 100(http://twitterholic.com/) twitter users in terms of followers. Remember, this is a free tool, one that people use to focus attention and galvanize action .... None of them are non-profits. Where are the big charities, the urgent charities, the famous charities that face such timely needs and are in a hurry to make change? .... The marketing world has changed completely. So has the environment for philanthropic giving. So have the attitudes of a new generation of philanthropists. But if you look at the biggest charities in the country, you couldn't tell ..."

1MTweets seeks to prove there is a prominent place for worthy causes within social networks, and that - if engaged in the right way - people will actively network and connect to support and promote causes close to their heart.

"Twitter is a powerful platform," adds Banks. "The transfer and sharing of information and level of engagement on Twitter is incredible, making it a great resource to raise awareness for Alzheimer's and memorialize those who have lived with the devastating disease."

All proceeds from 1Mtweets will be allocated to research projects focused on the aging brain and Alzheimer's disease through the Alzheimer Society of Canada in collaboration with the American Alzheimer's Association.

    
    How can I participate?
    ----------------------
    -   Visit the 1MTweets website and tweet to digitally memorialize a loved
        one affected by Alzheimer's.
    -   Tweet about the program itself and make sure you include the hashtag
        1 Mtweets in the body of your tweet if your message is posted on the
        Twitter platform.
    -   Opt in to our request to donate a minimum of $1 per tweet.
    -   Also, consider creating a Twitter tribute, or "Twibute", and share it
        with your family and friends
    -   You can also support the movement by becoming a fan on the 1Mtweet
        Facebook page and by following 1Mtweets on Twitter.

    Did you know?
    -------------
    According to the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the American Alzheimer's
    Association:
    -   An estimated 35.6 million people worldwide will be living with
        dementia in 2010.
    -   Six million North Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.
    -   1 in 11 Canadians and 1 in 8 Americans over the age of 65 has
        Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia.
    -   36 per cent of Canadians know someone with Alzheimer's disease.
    -   Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.
    -   Every 70 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in
        the United States.

    For more information about Alzheimer's disease, go to www.alzheimer.ca or
www.alz.org.
    

For further information: or to book an interview with Jordan Banks, please contact: Stephanie Marton, Noor Marzook, Marsha Knoll, Edelman, [phone] ext. 314, 239, 329, [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]