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Looks like Oscar Night festivities will sweep the country more this year than ever before. Our best source reports 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 16th year in 2009.
Even in the best of times, the need for financial support keeps growing. So this year we're especially gratified to have so many cities and charities participating in Oscar Night America," said Academy Executive Director Bruce Davis.
On Sunday, February 22, 52 cities including first-timer Grand Rapids , Michigan, will host official Oscar viewing parties during the 81st Academy Awards ceremony. The events will all feature the live broadcast of the Awards presentation on the ABC Television Network.
In addition, to Grand Rapids, ONA 2009 locations are Atlanta,
Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnatti,
Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, Greenville,
Hartford, Honolulu, Houston, Inidanapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas,
Lewisburg, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Omaha, Orlando, Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Philadeplhia, Phoenix, Portland, Providence ,Raleigh, Richmond, Sacaramento, St, Louis, Salt lake City, San Anotnio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Springfield (MO), Tampa, Tucson and Washington DC.
Most parties are black-tie affairs, though some are less formal. Some party goers 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 market may participate in ONA. Events are entirely produced by local non-profit organizations, with the active participation of the local ABC-TV affiliate station.
Last year 51 charities, hosted viewing parties for the 80th Academy Awards, raising ore than $3.3 million, all of it remaining in local communities. With close to 16,000 guests attending nationwide, ONA 2008 benefited such charities as American Diabetes Association, American Red Cross, Ronald Mc Donald House, Special Olympics, the United Way and the Ellie Fund for Breast Cancer Research. For more details visit Oscars.org
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