The Greenville Twestival started with the goal of raising $1000 for the Miracle Hill Boys’ Shelter. But with the help of corporate sponsors BrightBall, Greenville Pro, GSATC and The Lazy Goat, along with about 25 additional businesses and individuals donating items and services for the event, the fund-raising goal was easily passed. Dozens of people turned out to The Lazy Goat to tweet, meet and give. Proceeds of the event totaled $1,541, money that will go to care for abused and neglected boys at the shelter. Thanks to everyone who donated, bid and helped– you made the first ever Greenville Twestival a great success!

Many Twitterati– and even some non-Tweeters– turned out to The Lazy Goat in downtown Greenville for the first-ever Greenville Twestival. All money raised supported Miracle Hill Boys’ Shelter. The following photos were taken by photographer Liz Morrisey. Check out more photos on Flickr.

Tyler Brown models an Outfit Styled by Evolve Male

Cherlyne Models an Outfit Created by Three Sisters Boutique in Spartanburg

Coordinator Alison Storm Introduces MC Nigel Robertson from WYFF

Tanner Bell and Rhiannon Wells Check out the Silent Auction

Not only are general admission tickets to the Greenville Twestival free, but the first 70 people to turn out will receive free gift bags. The bags are packed and ready to go– full of freebies, exclusive deals, coupons and even the latest issue of Business Black Box. You may RSVP here, although it’s not required.

There are still a few VIP tickets available for $20. Click here to purchase your VIP ticket. VIPs enjoy reserved seating on the runway, plus swag bags full of free stuff like a massage, party supplies and treats. Every bit of your $20 ticket goes to Miracle Hill Boys’ Shelter– no fees are deducted!

It’s going to be a fun event and we hope to see you there!

Liquid Highway

Liquid Highway is hosting the Greenville Twestival After-Party. Head to their location at 11 South Main Street next to Sticky Fingers from 7:30pm to 10pm on Thursday, September 10. Liquid Highway will donate ten percent of all sales during the after-party to the Miracle Hill Boys’ Shelter! Even if you can’t make it to the main event at The Lazy Goat, make sure you stop by Liquid Highway to support Miracle Hill and enjoy a tasty beverage!

Area businesses have stepped up to help Miracle Hill Boys’ Shelter in a major way! Take a look at the silent auction items and come by The Lazy Goat on Thursday, September 10 from 5:30-7:30 to bid. All the money raised goes straight to this deserving charity helping abused and neglected boys in our community!

Custom House Portrait by Greenville artist Patricia Crandall: Done completely by hand using the Stipple drawing technique, this custom ink portrait of your home is done on Bristol vellum paper. Value: $400

Two One-Hour Business or Career Coaching Sessions with Phil Yanov: Phil Yanov is the founder of the GSA Technology Council, Greenville Magazine columnist, co-host of the Your Day technology editions and an expert in entrepreneurship, innovations and personal connections. Use your one-hour coaching session to discuss business plans, career goals or to overcome hurdles. Value: $400 each

Girls’ Night Out Shopping Party at The Runway: This auction item comes with a free outfit for the party host up to $300, plus food and wine for an evening of fun for 10 to 15 of your friends at The Runway in Spartanburg. Plus your guests will receive 20% off of everything they buy at your party. Value: $300+

Marco Suarez Framed, Numbered and Signed Print: Greenville artist Marco Suarez’s “Painted Tree” print looks beautiful in any room and in any style of home. Printed on 35″x12″ photo paper with archival inks, this framed print is part of a run of 250 that are individually signed and numbered. Value: $210

Personal Training Package from Fitness Fits You: Get in shape with certified personal trainer Raul Wells. This auction item includes four one-hour personal training sessions. Value: $160

Home Pressure Washing from Hydro-Shine: Get your home super clean with a pressure washing treatment from Hydro-Shine, a Greenville-based company servicing in homes and businesses. Value: $120

Four Tickets to The Warehouse Theater: Enjoy the live production of your choice with these four tickets to The Warehouse Theater in downtown Greenville. Value: $100

Orchid Arrangement from Roots: Roots, an urban gardener’s oasis, offers a beautiful, artistic arrangement planted in a lovely ceramic pot that will last much longer than a cut floral bouquet. Value: $75

$60 in Gift Cards from Red Robin Gourmet Burgers: With these gift cards you’ll be able to enjoy plenty of the burgers rated #1 in the latest Zagat Fast-Food Survey. Value: $60

Necklace from Blue Moss: A long silver chain is the perfect accent to an over-sized bronze Eiffel Tower, a found rhinestone buckle and vintage bead. It’s all made complete by a gray vintage seam binding bow created at the hands of Greenville jewelry designer Blue Moss. Value: $56

$50 Gift Card, Yoga Mat and Backpack from Sports Club: The winner of this auction can use the gift card towards anything at Sports Club, including spa services at SPA 360 located in Sports Club Five Forks. Value: $50+

Casino Party Pack from The House of Bachelorette: Bring Vegas to Greenville with this party pack that includes a Casino-Night-in-a-box game kit, aces shades, party beads, casino candies, and casino napkins. Value: $50

Candy Basket and Gift Card from The Lollipop Shop: Indulge your sweet tooth with this auction item from The Lollipop Shop in downtown Greenville. Along with plenty of treats you’ll also get a $10 gift card for future purchases. Value: $50

Autographed Christian Books from private donor: This set of three autographed Christian books by bestselling authors includes “The Love Dare” by Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Robin Gunn’s “Coming Attractions and “Love is a Verb” by Gary Chapman. Value: $50+
$50 Gift Card from Mg’s Grand Day Spa: Indulge in the spa service of your choice from MG’s Grand Day Spa located on Greenville’s eastside. Value: $50

Five 30-Minute Fitness Assessments from Fitness Fits You: Find out where your fitness levels are now and set goals for where you want them to be with certified personal trainer Raul Wells. Value: $25 each

Subscription to Business Black Box Magazine: Enjoy a one-year subscription to the Upstate’s most innovative business magazine that is helping the business community connect and grow. Value: $20

Custom Embroidered Bag from Cardinal Embroidery: The winner of this auction will receive a bag personalized as you wish with custom embroidery by Greenville-based Cardinal Embroidery. Value: $20

The Greenville Twestival is set for Thursday, September 10 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at The Lazy Goat in downtown Greenville. While admission is free, VIP tickets are available for $20 and include great perks like freebies and reserved seating. Please RSVP and let us know you’ll be there! The first 75 people will receive free SWAG BAGS full of great stuff!

Photo Courtesy of The Runway

One of the highlights of the Greenville Twestival is the Budget-Friendly Fashion Show. Your favorite Upstate stores like Evolve Male, The Runway and Three Sisters Boutique have signed on to take part in this fashion show with a twist. Models will show off one piece from their store, styled with other pieces from the Miracle Hill Thrift Store, since the entire event is benefiting Miracle Hill.

Wondering how you can save money and still look hot this fall? Get great ideas from the budget-friendly fashion show! Items used from the Miracle Hill Thrift Store will be available for purchase after the models walk the runway. Again, all the money raised goes to a great cause!

So your business is on Twitter, but does the community know? Now you can get the word out about your social media presence while supporting a great cause! The Greenville Twestival Team is creating the Upstate’s first Twitter Business Directory. For just $10 your business name, website and of course your Twitter address will be listed in the directory. Once completed the directory will be available on this site for free download! Plus it will be distributed to all attendees at the upcoming Greenville Twestival. The best part about it is that every penny goes to support Miracle Hill’s Boys Shelter! Your business gets exposure, and a great cause receives support– it’s a win win!

To buy your listing in the directory click here. You’ll be able to pay securely with a credit card or through PayPal.

Calling all Upstate businesses! Looking to improve your company’s social networking status? Want to be a part of a global movement while helping a great Upstate charity? Corporate sponsorships are now available for the Greenville Twestival. Your $100 donation will go straight to the non-profit chosen by thousands of votes, but not only will you know your money is going to a great cause, you’ll receive many great benefits:

• Promotion on the Greenville Twestival blog
• Logo displayed prominently on the Greenville Twestival blog
• Tweets by @GvilleTwestival
• Mention in all Greenville Twestival news releases
• Link to company website given to all members of Greenville Twestival Facebook Group
• Much, much more!

At just $100, our corporate sponsorships are a great value! Interested? Purchase your sponsorship now!

After five days and thousands of votes, the Greenville Twestival charity has been chosen. The official announcement is expected to come by the end of the week after the winning charity is vetted by the national Twestival committee. We only allowed one vote per computer and in the end over 3500 ballots were filled out. It looks like a few spammers in other states voted thousands of times on one computer, so the results you see to the left may be different from what you saw on the voting website. Stay tuned for the big announcement and thank you to all of you who rallied support and cast votes!

Voting is now open for the Greenville Twestival charity of choice! These nominated non-profits are all based in the Upstate and all have great plans for the money we hope to raise through the upcoming Twestival. Voting will continue until the end of the day on Wednesday August 26. Once a winner is chosen by the community it must be approved by the International Twestival team, a process which takes 24-48 hours. Please take a moment to review each of the following ten charities and vote for the one you believe should receive the Greenville Twestival funds. (They are listed in order of when the nomination was received.)

1. Food for Life: We have been serving and building relationships with people in need in the Greenville area for 6 years. We help pay all types of bills, provide clothing, and give food. What would $1,000 accomplish? The money would purchase and fill 25 emergency backpacks for the homeless that include a blanket, Bible, wash cloth, soap, razors, shaving cream, flashlight with batteries, and shampoo.
2. Hydromissions: Hydromissions installs low-tech water wells in third world countries, providing water to the thirsty in Jesus’ name. What would $1,000 accomplish? The money would completely fund 2 deep wells in India. These wells would be put into villages of “low caste” people who would otherwise have to walk an average of 3km for their water.
3. Pawsitive Effects: Pawsitive Effects works to improve the lives of dog that live tethered/chained 24 hours per day 7 days per week 365 days per year. This group builds 600 sq foot enclosures, gets the dog(s) all their shots, fixed, micro chipped & heart worm test. What would $1,000 accomplish? Each fence & medical care cost the non profit $400, so they could fully fund at least two projects.
4. Miracle Hill Boys Shelter: Miracle Hill Boys’ Shelter was established to care for at-risk, abused and neglected boys. The goal of the shelter is to provide a safe haven and a stable, loving environment for boys transitioning to their next placement of back to their homes. What would $1,000 accomplish? The money would help the shelter provide clothing, food, and supplies to care for the boys that stay there. It would also help the shelter provide the boys with gifts at Christmas and on birthdays, times that are hardest for a boy without a family.
5. AID Upstate: AID Upstate empowers men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in the Upstate and encourages active community responses through advocacy, direct services, prevention and awareness. Each year we provide Christmas presents for the children of our clients who cannot afford to buy Christmas presents. What would $1,000 accomplish? Last year we purchased, wrapped and delivered presents to over 80 children. A $1,000 contribution would help us purchase Christmas presents for 20 children. The “Wish Lists” for these children typically include shoes, socks and underwear, winter coats, blankets, shirts, sweaters, jeans, bras, sneakers, etc.
6. Meals on Wheels: Meals on Wheels enhances the quality of life of home bound individuals by providing nutritious meals, personal contact and related services. What would $1,000 accomplish? The money would purchase 28 new Styrofoam-free insulated food delivery bags because the organization is going green and eliminating Styrofoam by 1/1/10. These bags keep the food hot for the client. 
   
7. American Cancer Society of Greenville: The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. What would $1,000 accomplish? The money would support “Look Good, Feel Better” consultations for five women battling cancer. The need to feel good in order to keep up one’s spirits and morale is a key element in fighting the disease.
   
8. Dogs for Autism: Dogs for Autism breeds, trains and provides ASA (assistance, search, alert) dogs at no charge to families with autistic children. What would $1,000 accomplish? It would help finish off the last needed items for the recently launched “Pup-Start Center”. They still need medical supplies, food, washer and dryer, bedding materials etc.
9. Off the Coast: Off The Coast Ministries helps connect Upstate young adults in a fun, safe atmosphere. Off The Coast Ministries also encourages young adults to connect with the community they live in by partnering with other local ministries and providing volunteer events for young adults to make a positive impact in the Upstate. What would $1,000 accomplish? A thousand dollars would help provide for the designing and printing of promotional materials, new business cards, and updating the website.
10. Mental Health America of Greenville County: Mental Health America of Greenville County promotes a full continuum of services including a comprehensive and nationally certified crisis intervention services program, which features a 24/7 CRISISline, TEENline, and Survivors of Suicide program for those that have lost a loved one to suicide. What would $1,000 accomplish? The money would help implement the I.C. Hope “Don’t Duck Mental Health” program into local elementary schools. The money would purchase books, puppets, educational literature and other supplements to teach kids about mental illnesses.
11. Safe Harbor: Safe Harbor provides emergency shelter and counseling services for victims of domestic violence who feel that their lives and/or the lives of their children are in jeopardy. This includes operation of two 24-hour shelters located in Greenville and Anderson Counties.What would $1,000 accomplish? Safe Harbor would purchase needed materials for our Megan Project, an interactive dating violence prevention program. Needs include a new projector as well as a portable screen to accompany.


**NOTE** Do not leave your vote in the comments. It will not be counted. If the ballot image does not appear here please VOTE HERE! Thank you!

Select the Greenville Twestival Charity of Choice!