Twitter Aims to Boost Literacy With Social Innovation Partner

Microblog Twitter, which took the world by storm in the past two years offering people the chance to tweet what's going on in their lives in 140 characters or less, has launched its first official corporate philanthropic effort.

The San Francisco-based company is joining forces with Room to Read, an educational nonprofit also based in San Francisco, focused on helping children in developing countries through educational efforts.

The project, called The Fledgling Initiative, is being spurred by Twitter's belief in "democratizing access to information throughout the world via tweeting," according to a press statement.

To raise funds for Room to Read, Twitter staff have become de facto wine makers, creating a Pinot noir and a Chardonnay with a local custom winery, Crushpad. The wine is currently in the fermentation process and will be released for sale in the fall of 2010, which marks the 10th anniversary of Room to Read.

Five dollars from each bottle sold will go directly to Room to Read to support and enable literacy programs.

“Like our friends at Twitter, Room to Read is thinking big and growing fast. This innovative partnership will allow us to bring new libraries to thousands of children in developing communities across Asia and Africa,” said John Wood, founder and executive chairman of Room to Read, in the press release.

If you want to learn more, or keep track of the initiative, there is multimedia content documenting the wine’s development each step of the way, in-person winery events and even chances to taste the wine, which even has its own microsite with news and updates.

Any effort to propel literacy, and help children, is deserving of a toast. Here's to Twitter and its very unique first charity effort.

Photo courtesy of Room to Read