Tue, Jan 15th 2013 04:00 pm
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.