OSCAR® FEVER STRIKES THE CASTRO
Cure can be found by attending The Academy Gala on Sunday, February 29, 2004.
The 76th Annual Academy Awards® Telecast Presented Live On The Castro Theatre Big-Screen

Lights! Camera! Action! The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Northern California is proud to announce that their 3rd annual Oscar® night fundraising event, The Academy Gala, will be presented for the very first time at its new home in the festive heart of San Francisco at the legendary Castro Theatre.

“Imagine an enchanting Hollywood evening in which YOU are the Star, surrounded on the red carpet by adoring fans, the paparazzi, and anxious autograph seekers as you and your date make your way to the Castro’s very own ‘Academy Awards®’ ceremony,” explains Christopher Ruetz, Executive Producer of The Academy Gala. “One should be prepared for an immediate fashion critique or spontaneous interview with Her Imperial Highness, Donna Sachet, while navigating through the bustling gallery of curious passersby.”

Sachet, along with Castrobear Presents impresario, Harry Lit, are the gala chairmen for this stunning event, billed as “not-so-very-black-tie” as the occasion often dictates. “This is truly one amazing community event,” said Sachet, “a fun and campy night basically watching television on one mighty large screen while raising important funds for the research efforts of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.” Ruetz elaborates that the presently incurable cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease affecting over 30,000 children and young adults nationwide, however, as many as ten million or more may passively carry the defective gene, passing it on from generation to generation without symptoms until he or she mates with another individual carrying the CF gene. “It makes no difference how anyone chooses to define ‘family’. It is all about two defective genes coming together irrespective of ethnic or social community. While other afflictions may receive greater publicity in the Bay Area, CF is no less fatal. A cure must be found no differently than any other disease.” Ruetz explained.


The Academy Gala proceedings begin at 4:00pm and includes a delicious hors d’oeuvre and cocktail buffet generously provided by Castro area restaurants, a silent auction and raffle, as well as contests galore, including The Academy Gala Award of Style for impersonating a “Best Actor/Actress”, and The Academy Gala Award of Clairvoyance, awarded to the contestant who guesses correctly the most Academy Award® winners in advance of the event on a mail-in ballot.

Silent auction memorabilia will be a fabulous added attraction at this special event. Bay Area luminaries and Hollywood celebrities will be donating unique items to help raise money for the cause.

Proceeds from The Academy Gala will benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and improve the quality of life for those with this genetic disease afflicting children and young adults nationwide.