Beverly Hills, CA – Oscar Night America (ONA), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ grassroots program that enables local charities to host Oscar® viewing parties and raise money for their organizations, kicks off its 19th year in 2012.
On Sunday, February 26, 49 cities will host official Oscar viewing parties during the 84th Academy Awards® ceremony. All events will feature the live broadcast of the Awards presentation on the ABC Television Network.
“Oscar night is an event meant to be a shared with others. This network of fundraising parties across the nation is a natural extension of that experience, and also represents the year-round philanthropic work the Academy does,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “This February we are thrilled to be able to celebrate the movies with fans nationwide while supporting charities around the country.”
The ONA 2012 locations are Albuquerque, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlottesville, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Grand Rapids (MI), Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Greenville (SC), Hartford, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Springfield (MO), Tampa and Tucson.
Most parties are black-tie affairs, though some are less formal. Some partygoers dress up as famous couples and some events feature limousine arrivals and red carpets complete with local celebrities, paparazzi and press interviews for arriving guests.
To set these parties apart from the thousands of other events taking place on Oscar Night, each ONA party receives from the Academy copies of the official commemorative poster and the official Oscar show program, among other items.
Only one charity party in a given media market may participate in ONA. Events are entirely produced by local nonprofit organizations, with the active participation of the local ABC-TV affiliate station.
Last year 51 charities hosted viewing parties for the 83rd Academy Awards, raising more than $3.5 million, all of it remaining in local communities. With 17,332 guests attending nationwide, ONA 2011 benefitted such charities as the American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, United Way, Starlight Children’s Foundation and the Ellie Fund (breast cancer support services).
Since its inception in 1994, the program has generated nearly $33.5 million in funding for a wide spectrum of charitable organizations – every cent staying within the community where it was raised.
For the 19th consecutive year, Concept Marketing Development of Santa Barbara, California, will assist the Academy in coordinating the program.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2011 will be presented on Sunday, February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
