The 88th Academy Awards will air tonight (Sunday, February 28), but Hollywood’s finest started putting on their party hats earlier this week. The celebrations leading up to the main event are almost more star-studded than the show inside the Dolby Theatre.
Whether it’s a cocktail party honoring young Hollywood or a blowout bash hosted by Elton John, many Oscar parties are more than a smashing good time. Some of these events raise millions of dollars to benefit charities.
Good Celebrity narrowed down the philanthropic Academy Awards celebrations bringing together our favorite stars. Check out our list!
Pre-Oscar Parties that Benefit Charity
Vanity Fair + Fiat Young Hollywood Celebration
The magazine and Italian-born car brand held its annual bash at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles earlier this week. Krista Smith and Olivia Munn hosted the party to honor young Hollywood. The party raised money to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
Vanity Fair and Barney’s New York Private Dinner to Celebrate Spotlight and Filmmaker Tom McCarthy
The Chateau Marmont is a busy place this week as Vanity Fair hosted another party at the hotspot to raise money for ProPublica. The organization is a nonprofit that produces investigative packages about public issues.
Vanity Fair, Lancome and Clarisonic Makeup Artist Spa Day
The stars definitely hit up the spa before walking the camera-ridden red carpet, so this is the perfect party for a pampering session. The industry’s top makeup artists celebrate their craft before prepping their celebrity clients for the Academy Awards.
The best part – this bash benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Vanity Fair + L’Oréal Paris D.J. Night
West Hollywood’s Pailhouse is the place to be to kick-off Oscar weekend. Academy Award-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld hosts the invite-only event that features a DJ set from Orange is the New Black star Taryn Manning.
The party’s proceeds benefit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Annual Night Before Party
The 4th Annual Night Before Party benefits the Motion Picture and Television Fund (MPTF). Proceeds raised during the star-studded event support the organization’s social services, financial assistance, retirement community and programs for seniors.
MPTF assists thousands of people each year who have committed their lives to a career in entertainment. Last year, the party raised $5.2 million. To date, it’s raised more than $65 million.
“On Oscar night, we celebrate the creative excellence of our industry, while the Night Before demonstrates the deep generosity and compassion of our community,” said Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation and Chairman of the MPTF Foundation. “We’re truly grateful for the ongoing support that enables MPTF to provide its invaluable services to those in need.”
Oscar Night Party that Benefits Charity
The Academy Awards Viewing Party: Wonderful Crazy Night to Benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation
The legendary singer throws his annual Oscar-viewing party every year to raise money for his AIDS Foundation. The EJAF is one of the world’s largest HIV grant-makers and has raised more than $349 million for the treatment and prevention of the diseases for more than 20 years.
One way he raises funds during the bash is by auctioning off at least two invitations to the A-list Vanity Fair Oscar Party, which is one of the first stops for award winners after the show. All proceeds from the auction go to the EJAF.
The 2016 Academy Awards will air on ABC tonight at 7 pm EST.