Distributors of The Florida Project will donate 5 percent of their digital sales this week to a Kissimmee charity helping homeless families like the one portrayed in the film.
From Jan. 30 until Feb. 5, viewers who buy The Florida Project on iTunes, Amazon and Google will help distributor A24 send proceeds to Community Hope Center, an organization that helps low-income people in Osceola County who may be living in motels.
Community Hope Center was briefly featured in the 2017 film that portrays the heartbreaking tale of a single mother Halley (Bria Vinaite) and her mischievous 6-year-old daughter Moonee (Brooklynn Prince) as they struggle to survive in the motels along Kissimmee's dilapidated tourist strip Highway 192. Under the shadow of Disney World, Halley and Moonee con tourists for money until that scheme fails – forcing Halley into more dangerous work to make rent.
The Rev. Mary Lee Downey, founder and executive director of the Community Hope Center, helped filmmakers Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch capture the realities that motel families live through. Many of the extras in The Florida Project were actual motel families who found jobs in the film through the Hope Center. The organization says it "restores dignity and self-sufficiency to those in need in our community through a holistic approach to case management, funds assistance, and life skills," according to its website.
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