Oscar Winners' $1 Million Offer: Give Airtime To Airborne

As if taking home an Academy Award isn't enough, now, some of this year's winners have a chance to earn $1 million for charity – all they have to do is give Airborne a little air time during their acceptance speech.

Airborne, the effervescent herbal health supplement, has offered up a million bucks to one of the winners from four categories – Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress – if the winner brings a box of Airborne up to the podium and plugs the product on live TV.

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The first winner to take the folks at Airborne up on their offer will win $1 million for the celebrity's favorite charity.

"Simply be the first actor who, upon winning their award, stands at the podium, hoists a box of Airborne while intoning, 'I'd like to thank Airborne for this award'… and bingo, you win the Mill for your charity!" the ad proclaims at AirborneHealth.com.

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And while the idea may seem like nothing more than a marketing ploy (albeit one that could cost the company $1 million), Airborne co-founder Rider McDowell said he's approaching it as a great opportunity to help a worthy cause.

"It just seemed to me, in this economy, charities are really struggling," McDowell told AccessHollywood.com. "It seemed like a good time to reward some charities and if it goes through, we'll be thrilled to provide the funds to the charity."

But before people laugh off the idea, McDowell (whose wife Victoria created Airborne in 1997), said they've already received calls from two different Hollywood agent firms asking if the offer was for real.

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One of those agencies, CAA, reps eight of the 20 nominees in the four major categories.

Meanwhile, the William Morris agency (who also contacted Airborne) reps three of the nominees in the specified categories.

So does McDowell think a major star would really go for it?

"Depends on the person," he noted. "If you get someone like Mickey Rourke, he's got nothing to lose. On the other hand, someone like Meryl Streep who has been up there before might see it as a way to get a million bucks for a charity close to her heart.

"The upside is huge. We don't see a downside," McDowell added. "A lot of these people are very poised – if they want to take five seconds to win $1 million for charity, it's a great opportunity."

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