Beverly Hills, CA — Oscar Night America (ONA), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ grassroots program that enables local charities to host glamorous Oscar® viewing parties and raise money for their organizations, kicks off its 17th year in 2010.
On Sunday, March 7, 50 cities will host official Oscar viewing parties during the 82nd Academy Awards® ceremony. For the first time in 2010, Oscar Night America will be celebrated in New York City, benefitting NYC & Company Foundation. All events will feature the live broadcast of the Awards presentation on the ABC Television Network.
“Especially in these difficult financial times, supporting local charities is essential. We’re very happy that Oscar Night America serves as a successful, and fun, way for people around the country to help make a difference,” said Academy Executive Director Bruce Davis.
The ONA 2010 locations are Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Grand Rapids (MI), Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Greenville, Hartford, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Providence, Raleigh, Richmond, Sacramento, St. Louis, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Springfield (MO), Tampa, Tucson and Washington D.C.
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.
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 52 charities hosted viewing parties for the 81st Academy Awards, raising more than $3 million, all of it remaining in local communities. With more than 16,000 guests attending nationwide, ONA 2009 benefitted such charities as the American Diabetes Association, the American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House, Special Olympics, the United Way and the Ellie Fund for Breast Cancer Research.
Since its inception in 1994, the program has generated nearly $27 million in funding for a wide spectrum of charitable organizations – every cent staying within the community where it was raised.
For the 17th consecutive year, Concept Marketing Development of Santa Barbara, California, will assist the Academy in coordinating the program.
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
