FilmAid Receives $5,000 from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

SEATTLE -- FilmAid(TM), Seattle's glamorous Oscar night celebration and AIDS fundraiser, announced today that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has donated $5,000 to help with the production costs of the their third annual fundraising gala.

FilmAid(TM) coincides with the annual Academy Awards® broadcast from Los Angeles. The event will begin at 5pm on March 26th at Star's Bar Dinning on the fourth floor of Pacific Place. The event will proceed across the promenade to General Cinema where the Academy Awards® Ceremony will be projected onto the silver screen. Tickets for the event are priced at $125 and $250.

"The support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will not only help us reach our goal of raising more than $150,000 to benefit AIDS prevention and treatment efforts, but we hope it will also act as a catalyst for other influentials throughout the Pacific Northwest to become involved in this important health issue," Parker Trewin, FilmAid(TM) president said.

With the grant, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation joins other FilmAid(TM) supporters including presenting sponsor Kozmo.com; co-chairs Governor Gary Locke and his wife Mona, two distinguished Washingtonian board members; and co-hosts KING TV's Mimi Gan and John Curley.

Funds raised will go towards halting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Pacific Northwest through outreach and education, with ancillary funds provided for AIDS care services. The Northwest AIDS Foundation and Bailey-Boushay will benefit as this year's beneficiaries.

FilmAid(TM) is the only Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences® sanctioned charity in Washington state and was founded to serve local charities through good work at a great event. For more information call (206).860.6265 or visit the web site.