2014 marks the seventh anniversary of tackling local hunger through the power of social media
TORONTO, Dec. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - Toronto's connected community of marketers, entrepreneurs, developers and web-heads are joining together for the seventh year to help make the world suck a little less with #HoHoTO, a fundraiser and kick-ass party in support of Daily Bread Food Bank. Taking over the Mod Club on Thursday, December 11th, the Toronto tech community is proving that we can make a difference with a night of holiday cheer, DJs, dancing, raffle prizes, instagramming and non-stop tweeting.
Since 2008, HoHoTO has raised over $320,000 for Daily Bread Food Bank. HoHoTO is often cited as one of the first remarkable examples of a hyper-connected social media movement using the power of self-organizing online groups to make a real world difference.
"It's outrageous that any of our neighbours, colleagues and friends should ever go hungry, but they do," says Wendy Koslow, #HoHoTO organizer. "Often, people who turn to Daily Bread for food have jobs, just not enough income to pay for rent and food. Some people have been between jobs just a little too long, and have no other option and this is why we have joined together to help."
Run by an assembly of volunteers who rely on freely available online collaboration tools to pull off this extraordinary event, HoHoTO proudly donates 100 per cent of all sponsorships and ticket sales to help Daily Bread feed the hungry.
"I'm always amazed at what HoHoTO manages to accomplish every year. It's a great party and a fun time but also reminds people that there are those who are struggling," said Gail Nyberg, Executive Director, Daily Bread Food Bank. "I'm always thrilled when people choose to give their time and energy back to the community in this way."
In a typical month, food banks in Canada now provide food and other supports to more than three quarters of a million separate individuals – 841,000 people, according to HungerCount 2014, a national study released in November by Food Banks Canada. This means 170,000 more people each month are seeking assistance, compared to when the economic downturn started in 2008 – a 25 per cent increase.
To help us raise essential funds for Daily Bread Food Bank, event tickets are available at http://hohoto.ca. Sponsorship opportunities are also available at http://hohoto.ca/sponsorship/. Followers can track the ongoing discussion around this event on Twitter by following @HoHoTO or searching the #hohoto hashtag.
About HoHoTO
HoHoTO started as a casual remark in a Twitter discussion in 2008 and grew at great speed to become Toronto's biggest Holiday fundraiser for the geek community, almost overnight. 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.
HoHoTO has been cited as one of the first and best examples of the power of self-organizing online groups to make a real-world difference. The event has been profiled as a best-practice use of Twitter and social media in best-selling business books, recognized by Queen Rania of Jordan as an example of social media influencing online activism, and endorsed by Biz Stone, co-founder of Twitter, Rick Mercer, David Miller, Don Tapscott, Reddit's Alexis Ohanian, Cory Doctorow, David Weinberger, and others.
Image with caption: "Taking over the Mod Club on Thursday, December 11th, the Toronto tech community is proving that we can make a difference with a night of holiday cheer, DJs, dancing, raffle prizes, instagramming and non-stop tweeting. (CNW Group/HoHoTO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141209_C6118_PHOTO_EN_9178.jpg
Image with caption: "Toronto’s connected community of marketers, entrepreneurs, developers and web-heads will be joining together on Thursday, December 11th at the Mod Club. (CNW Group/HoHoTO)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141209_C6118_PHOTO_EN_9179.jpg
SOURCE: HoHoTO
Katie Boland, 647.217.6982, [email protected]
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