Oscar Night

Oscar Night in Phoenix Proves to be a Hit!
By Pari McIntyre

Hollywood was not the only place where glamour, glitz, and movie buffs gathered under one roof last night. Held at Arizona's classy top-notch resort The Biltmore, people of Phoenix had an Oscar night of their own. With a sprawling red carpet to greet the attendees as well as a group of volunteer "paparazzi", Oscar Night America did an amazing job replicating one of the most exciting nights in Hollywood. Presented by Bashas' and sponsored by a group of outstanding organizations and local establishments such as Greenburg Traurig LLP and ABC 15, this event was more than just fabulous. Upon entry, 300+ guests were given the actual programs that were handed out to stars in Hollywood. Champagne, fine wines, and delicate hors' dourves kept peoples spirits up until the viewing of the awards ceremony began. Matt Jefferson, the V.P. of the Arthritis Foundation, anticipated to raise more than $100,000 of proceeds to benefit this highlighted charity. This would be made possible with tickets to this event starting at $500 a plate and a live auction, with our own KTAR contribution, as well as a silent auction, held between commercial breaks. Bree Hall, the honorary chair of the Arthritis Foundation, is a fresh-faced young woman who herself suffers from arthritis, and was honored to be apart of the event. She was sure to mention that arthritis is the #1 cause of disability in the United States and this night was to benefit a truly worthy cause. Rachel Ojala, the events director of the Arthritis Foundation, had taken every piece of the project into careful consideration. Originally held at the Ritz-Carlton, Ojala wanted to increase the amount of guests that could attend this year. She said that the hardest part is holding a successful gala and awards ceremony simultaneously, but it was quite evident that she was very in-tune with the demands of such an event. After six months of planning, Ojala was very happy with the outcome and hoped the guests were as pleased as she was. With perks such as a decadent fountain of chocolate, poker table, one of a kind hand-rolled cigars, and luxurious gift bags there was little room left for complaints. To make the night even more personal, a special thank-you from the chair and director of the Oscars was played over two huge screens, making the event that much more memorable. Watch out Hollywood, Phoenix has redefined Oscar's night and made it into our own spectacular event.

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Entertainment

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• party
• ktar
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