On Oscar Sunday, Feb. 24, charities in 45 cities will bring the Oscar experience to life at viewing parties in each city. The "Oscar Experience: Benefits" is the Academy's grassroots outreach program that allows charities across the country to host official Oscar parties while raising money for their causes.

In 2012, the "Oscar Experience: Benefits" raised more than $3.1 million in 49 cities. Since its inception in 1994, as "Oscar Night America," the program has brought in more than $36.6 million, with all of the funds staying in the communities where they were raised.

All of the parties will feature a live broadcast of the 85th Academy Awards; many will integrate Hollywood-style glamor elements, including red carpets, local celebrities, "paparazzi" and predict-the-winners contests.

"The 'Oscar Experience: Benefits' is a natural extension of the philanthropic work the Academy does year-round," said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. "We are thrilled to share a part of the Oscar experience with movie fans nationwide while supporting charities across the country."

The 2013 "Oscar Experience: Benefits" charities and cities are (alphabetical by city):

• The New Mexico BioPark Society, Albuquerque, N.M.
• The Center for Family Resources, Atlanta
• The Ellie Fund, Boston
• Shea's Performing Arts Center, Buffalo
• Virginia Film Festival, Charlottesville, Va.
• Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
• People Working Cooperatively, Cincinnati
• KidFilm Festival, Dallas
• Denver Film Society, Denver
• Southgate Community Players, Detroit
• AIDS Connecticut (ACT), Hartford, Conn.
• Hawaii International Film Festival, Honolulu
• American Cancer Society, High Plains Division, Houston
• United Way of Central Indiana, Indianapolis
• Variety of Eastern Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn.
• Variety Children's Charity of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas
• Wolfe Street Foundation, Inc., Little Rock, Ark.
• MEND Meet Each Need with Dignity, Los Angeles
• WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc., Louisville, Ky.
•  Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn.
• COA Youth & Family Centers, Milwaukee
• Aegis Foundation, Inc., Minneapolis
• Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tenn.
• American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter, New Orleans
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City
• Alzheimer's Association Midlands Chapter, Omaha, Neb.
• Variety - The Children's Charity of Florida, Inc., Orlando, Fla.
• Palm Beach International Film Festival, Palm Beach, Fla.
• Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, Philadelphia
• Pacific Region of the Arthritis Foundation, Phoenix
• Community Theatre of Greensboro, Piedmont Triad area, N.C.
• Rhode Island International Film Festival, Providence, R.I.
• Central Virginia Film Institute, Richmond, Va.
• Utah AIDS Foundation, Salt Lake City
• Special Olympics Texas, San Antonio
• Community Campership Council, Inc., San Diego
• California Film Institute Education Program, San Francisco
• Starlight Children's Foundation Northwest, Seattle
• Robinson Film Center, Shreveport, La.
• Isabel's House, Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks, Springfield, Mo.
• Cinema St. Louis, St. Louis
• Tampa Theatre, Tampa, Fla.
• Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, Tucson, Ariz.
• DC Shorts, Washington, D.C.
• Waterfront Film Festival, Western Michigan (Grand Rapids)

To set these parties apart from thousands of other events taking place on Oscar Sunday, each "Oscar Experience: Benefits" party receives from the Academy copies of the official commemorative poster and the official Oscar show program, among other items.

Only one charity in a given media market may participate in the "Oscar Experience: Benefits." Events are entirely produced by local nonprofit organizations with the active participation of the local ABC-TV affiliate station.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.