Heading to an Oscar party Feb. 26?
Is the party sanctioned by the Academy? Truth be told, a sanctioned party for that date doesn’t happen everywhere and, frankly, are not allowed, either. And the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago will host a special Oscar viewing party with the help of the Academy. On Sunday, Feb. 26, charities in 49 cities across the United States will host official Oscar viewing parties during the 84th Academy Awards®. It is part of Oscar Night America (ONA), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ grassroots outreach program.
The Academy sanctions charities across the country to host celebratory viewing parties on Oscar night. The proceeds will benefit charity. The key to the sanctioned parties is that they will feature the live broadcast of the awards presentation; many of them will integrate Hollywood-style elements, including red carpet arrivals, local celebrities, “paparazzi” photographers, predict-the-winner contests and live entertainment. It is up to the charity as to how far to go with these parties.
The Chicago event will feature a red carpet, which will be hosted by Amanda Puck. There will be dinner, donated by MJ Catering. Guests will watch the high-definition telecast of the 84th Academy Awards live on ABC-7. There will be raffles, a silent auction and prizes throughout the night. Ticket prices are $100 for general admission and $200 for VIP. Those VIP tickets include access to VIP Theater with food service, private bar and deluxe gift bag. Tickets can be purchased online via Ticketmaster. It starts at 6 p.m.
For more information call 312-846-2072. Cocktail attire is required. Valet Parking is available.
The 2012 Oscar Night America charities and cities are:
KiMo Theatre, Albuquerque, NM
The Center for Family Resources, Atlanta
GA AIDS Interfaith Residential Services (AIRS)
Baltimore, MD The Ellie Fund, Boston, MA
Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo
NY Virginia Film Festival, Charlottesville, VA
Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
People Working Cooperatively, Cincinnati, OH
Ashtabula County Medical Center Foundation, Cleveland, OH
USA Film Festival, Dallas, TX
Denver Film Society, Denver, CO
Southgate Community Players, Detroit, MI
Waterfront Film Festival, Grand Rapids, MI
Community Theatre of Greensboro, Greensboro/Winston-Salem, NC
Junior League of Greenville, Greenville, SC
Connecticut AIDS Resource Coalition, Hartford, CT
Hawaii International Film Festival, Honolulu, HI
American Cancer Society, High Plains Division, Houston, TX
United Way of Central Indiana, Indianapolis, IN
Variety – The Children’s Charity of Eastern Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Variety – The Children’s Charity of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Wolfe Street Foundation, Inc., Little Rock, AR
MEND – Meet Each Need with Dignity, Los Angeles, CA
WHAS Crusade for Children, Louisville, KY
Ronald McDonald House of Memphis, Memphis, TN
Miami Beach Film Society, Miami, FL
COA Youth & Family Centers, Milwaukee, WI
Aegis Foundation, Minneapolis, MN
Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, TN
American Red Cross, Southeast Louisiana Chapter, New Orleans, LA
Ronald McDonald House of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, OK
Alzheimer’s Association, Midlands Chapter, Omaha, NE
Variety – The Children’s Charity of Florida, Orlando, FL
Palm Beach International Film Festival, Palm Beach, FL
Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, Philadelphia, PA
Arthritis Foundation, Greater Southwest Chapter, Phoenix, AZ
Rhode Island International Film Festival, Providence, RI
Theatre In The Park, Raleigh, NC
Central Virginia Film Institute, Richmond, VA
Capital City AIDS Fund, Sacramento, CA
Cinema St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Utah AIDS Foundation, Salt Lake City, UT
Special Olympics Texas, San Antonio, TX
Community Campership Council, Inc., San Diego, CA
California Film Institute, San Francisco, CA
Starlight Children’s Foundation Northwest, Seattle, WA
Isabel’s House, Springfield, MO Tampa Theatre, Tampa, FL
Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation, Tucson, AZ
Last year 51 charities hosted viewing parties for the 83rd Academy Awards. There were with 17,332 guests in attendance with more than $3.5 million raised – all of it remaining in local communities. Since 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.