HoHoTO Returns - Toronto's Most Awesome Holiday Fundraiser Returns to Benefit
Daily Bread Food Bank

Third year of tackling local hunger through the power of social media

TORONTO, Dec. 10 /CNW/ - On December 16^th the Toronto technology, digital marketing and social media communities will unite for one of the biggest and most exciting Holiday gatherings: the 3^rd annual HoHoTO party.

HoHoTO, a fundraising party in support of Toronto's Daily Bread Food Bank, is being held at the Mod Club in downtown Toronto. More than 600 people are expected to attend, drawn by the appeal of a night of DJs, interactive media, Holiday cheer, and the chance to meet the real world friends behind their online avatars. 

"Three years ago, we had a little idea to use our networks to connect people for a cause. Our little idea has snowballed into a major annual event," said Rob Hyndman, Toronto-based technology lawyer and one of the HoHoTO organizers. "Food Banks need our help more than ever this year, so we're stretching everything we've got to make this year's HoHoTO the biggest event we possibly can. Every dollar we raise helps the hungry people throughout Toronto have a better Holiday season."

Since the launch of the fundraiser in late 2008, HoHoTO has raised over $80,000 to support Daily Bread Food Bank. This year, the organizers are hoping to equal or beat that amount in one night.

"People in Toronto are still recovering from the economic crisis and we've seen the evidence of that with over 870,000 visits to our food banks in the last year," said Gail Nyberg, Daily Bread's executive director. "With limited job opportunities and a punishing social assistance system, financial recovery takes a long time and that's why food banks are an essential service now more than ever. We're honoured to be the charitable beneficiary of HoHoTO's generous contributions and encouraged by their dedication to support the fight against hunger."

Since 2009, Daily Bread Food Bank has seen a 16 per cent increase in food bank use. The percentage of children under the age of 18 who are using food banks in the GTA is 34 per cent, while the percentage of adults who go hungry at least once a week is 38 per cent. It's crucial that everyone has the opportunity to have a roof over their head and put food on the table.

Tickets for HoHoTO are still available at http://hohoto.ca and donations are also welcomed at the site - click on the "Get Tickets Now" link. Sponsorship opportunities can also be found on HoHoTO's sponsorship page on the website. Followers can track the ongoing discussion around this event on Twitter by following @HoHoTO or searching for messages tagged #hohoto

About HoHoTO

HoHoTO started as a casual remark in a Twitter discussion in 2008 and grew at Web speed to become Toronto's biggest Holiday fundraiser for the geek community, almost overnight. Planned and created by a motley assembly of enthusiastic volunteers using only freely-available collaborative online tools, high-carb snack foods, and almost obnoxious levels of creative energy, HoHoTO was built as a way for Toronto's vibrant, thriving tech community to spread a little love each Holiday Season, and give something to those less fortunate. All proceeds from the event will be going directly to Daily Bread Food Bank to help them in their 2010 Holiday Drive.

For further information:

Kiva Reardon
Media Profile
416.342.1827
[email protected]