LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The excitement and glamour of Hollywood is brewing as the final preparations come together for Sunday's February 24, 2008 Oscar Night(r) America Los Angeles Charity Gala, hosted by Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) at Los Angeles' historic Union Station.
The gala, which is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences only Oscar-sanctioned charity event in Los Angeles, will benefit the University's extensive HIV/AIDS research and community outreach programs. The Gala includes the live viewing of the 80th Annual Academy Awards direct from the Kodak Theatre, televised by the ABC Television Network.
One of the evening's highlights is a fashion show that features fresh modern trends with old Hollywood flare, directed by Kymberly Love. After the Oscar's, guests will be treated to a fantastic fashion show opening with a dance routine in the 1920s flapper style which pays tribute to classic Hollywood Oscar fashions from the Golden Era. A hot dance routine is choreographed by renowned Kevin Maher, whose credits include Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Kelis, and George Michael.
Clothing designers at Oscar Night America Gala have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Lucky, People, Star, and Beautiful Decay magazines-Guy Baxter, Vin Trousseau, Magpie Apparel, Couture Tree, Olia Zavozino, Marjalia and Ja'ire International Coutour.
The show features 13 of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, adorning the classic Hollywood style. Hollywood make-up artists Milly Alvarado and Rusty Hackett along with hair stylist/estheticians, Amadeus Salon and Spa, will also participate by contributing their services to this worthy event.
Charles Drew University was selected as the Academy's Los Angeles non-profit organization to benefit from Oscar Night(r) America because of its outstanding HIV/AIDS response activities which include groundbreaking research, clinical services and treatment, education, in-home nursing, six University bloodmobiles that provide free HIV antibody and immune assessment screenings, counseling and referral services. The University's HIV/AIDS services also extend far beyond South Los Angeles-into some of the poorest regions of the globe-providing clinical and technical services in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America and Mexico.
Oscar Night(r) America Los Angeles will communicate the advances in the fight against HIV/AIDS that are being made in South Los Angeles and worldwide. "At Charles Drew University, we truly walk the talk when it comes to HIV/AIDS, and we do it regardless of race or economic status," said Dr. Susan Kelly, President and CEO of Charles Drew University.
The University, in association with Americua Films, is producing a major Gala and Viewing Party which kicks-off with celebrities walking down the Red Carpet. Event highlights include:
* 5-Star delectable food kiosks and champagne fountain * 1930's and 1940's Golden Cinema Era theme motif * Silent Auction * Fresh Modern Trends Fashion Show * Live viewing of 80th Annual Academy Awards (giant screens throughout the venue) * Chocolate Tequila Cafe * And, a rocking after-party to dance the night away
"The 2007 ONA party was a beautiful and worthy event, and we are proud to be a part of the 2008 party," said Diane G. Medina, V.P., Diversity and Community Relations, KABC-TV, and the event's premier media sponsor.
For more information and ticket purchase, visit www.cdrewu.edu/ONA-LA. Or email eliaesparza@cdrewu.edu, or call Jackie Brown at (323) 563-5963.
About ONA Program
Oscar Night(r) America (ONA) is sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' grassroots program that enables charities to host glamorous Oscar viewing parties. Since its inception in 1994, ONA has generated over $20.4 million in funding for a wide spectrum of charitable organizations-every cent staying within the community where it was raised. Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2007 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center(r), and televised live by the ABC Television Networking beginning at 5 p.m. (PT).
About Charles Drew University
A private nonprofit, nonsectarian, minority-serving medical and health science institution chartered in 1966 located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles. The University has provided quality college, graduate and post-graduate education and training to thousands of qualified minority and other students for more than 35 years. As part of its mission, the University has also provided urgently needed healthcare services to chronically underserved residents of the poorest communities in Los Angeles County, serving the 1.7 million citizens in its 94-square-mile service area. If this service area were a municipality, it would be the fifth largest city in the U.S. The University has been remarkably successful in achieving its primary goal of producing physicians and other healthcare professionals who return to the community to serve people who are uninsured or underinsured. It has graduated over 500 medical doctors, 2,500 physician specialists, 2,000 physician assistants and hundreds of other health professionals. The Charles Drew University's unique environment of providing medical education has been lauded as a national model. Research shows both that its students become more committed to the mission as they progress through their medical education and that 10 years after graduation, 70% of Charles Drew University trained physicians are still working with underserved populations.