The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Oscar Night America (ONA), its "grassroots program that enables local charities to host glamorous Oscar viewing parties and raise money for their organizations," will take place for the 17th year in 2010.
As per the Academy's press release, on Sunday, March 7, 50 US cities will host official Oscar viewing parties, most of which are black-tie affairs, during the 2010 Academy Awards ceremony. Also, for the first time in 2010, Oscar Night America will be held in New York City to benefit the NYC & Company Foundation. All events will feature the live broadcast of the awards presentation on ABC.
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.
To set the Oscar Night America parties apart from the thousands of other such 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.
The release adds that "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 benefited 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."
The 2010 Academy Award nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
The 2010 Academy Awards ceremony will take place on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. In the US, it'll be televised live by ABC.