Oscar Experience To Be Shared In 45 Cities Across The U.S.

On Oscar Sunday, February 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 glamour 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, NM
The Center for Family Resources, Atlanta, GA
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
KidFilm Festival, Dallas, TX
Denver Film Society, Denver, CO
Southgate Community Players, Detroit, MI
AIDS Connecticut (ACT), Hartford, CT
Hawaii International Film Festival, Honolulu, HI
American Cancer Society, High Plains Division, Houston, TX
United Way of Central Indiana, Indianapolis, IN
Variety of Eastern Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Variety Children's Charity of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Wolfe Street Foundation, Inc., Little Rock, AK
MEND Meet Each Need with Dignity, Los Angeles, CA
WHAS Crusade for Children, Inc., Louisville, KY
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Memphis, Memphis, TN
COA Youth & Family Centers, Milwaukee, WI
Aegis Foundation, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, TN
American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter, New Orleans, LA
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, OK
Alzheimer's Association Midlands Chapter, Omaha, NE
Variety - The Children's Charity of Florida, Inc., Orlando, FL
Palm Beach International Film Festival, Palm Beach, FL
Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, Philadelphia, PA
Pacific Region of the Arthritis Foundation, Phoenix, AZ
Community Theatre of Greensboro, Piedmont Triad area, NC
Rhode Island International Film Festival, Providence, RI
Central Virginia Film Institute, Richmond, VA
Utah AIDS Foundation, Salt Lake City, UT
Special Olympics Texas, San Antonio, TX
Community Campership Council, Inc., San Diego, CA
California Film Institute Education Program, San Francisco, CA
Starlight Children's Foundation Northwest, Seattle, WA
Robinson Film Center, Shreveport, LA
Isabel's House, Crisis Nursery of the Ozarks, Springfield, MO
Cinema St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Tampa Theatre, Tampa, FL
FOX Tucson Theatre Foundation, Tucson, AZ
DC Shorts, Washington, DC
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, February 24, 2013, 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.