Macbeth Studio uses PPP cash to help nonprofits
Macbeth Studio, a videography and photography studio in downtown Orlando, is using its Paycheck Protection Program funding to provide $25,000 of in-kind photography and videography to nonprofits and small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With over 50 applicants, Macbeth Studio and the Local Love Foundation Orlando recently announced the five groups whose projects they will be producing. Each will receive about $5,000 worth of services.
“Everyone has been hit hard by this, but I think it’s fair to say that local nonprofits, especially the smaller ones, have really suffered,” said Jim Hobart, owner of Macbeth Studio. “In a lot of cases, they’re not eligible for some of this funding that’s been happening to help small businesses.”
After receiving the PPP money from the federal government, Hobart said he was relieved he could pay his employees their normal wages. He said it was only right to dedicate an equivalent amount of work to giving back to others, especially while Macbeth’s team and gear was mostly idle.
Hobart said he gave priority to Black- and other minority-owned businesses because of all the protests that have been impacting black and minority communities recently.
The five winners announced are Paddle with a Purpose, 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando, Naked Bar Soap Co., Hearts, Hands, and Hope, and Rebuilding Together of Central Florida. The next step for Macbeth is setting up a production meeting with each one.
Of the winners, 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando and Naked Bar Soap Co. are both minority run.
100 Black Men of Greater Orlando offers mentoring to disadvantaged, disenfranchised and low-income youths and families to help change the trajectory of their lives. Naked Bar Soap Co. is run by two Black Latinas who use natural ingredients to create artisan soap.
The Local Love Foundation Orlando raises funds and awareness for small, local nonprofit organizations by partnering with local emerging artists and hosting events. Along with being the founder of Macbeth Studio, Hobart is also the director of the Local Love Foundation Orlando.
“Not only are many living in fear because of the pandemic, but for far too long, many of our friends and neighbors of color have been unfairly burdened,” said Flynn Dobbs, a member of LLFO’s board of directors.
Rebuilding Together of Central Florida repairs homes and revitalizes lives by providing free, critical home repairs to neighbors in need. It is asking Macbeth Studio to create a video that showcases the stories of the homeowners they’ve served to elevate the serious housing issues in the community.
“I think a lot of people, when they think about affordable housing, would focus on the lack of available housing, but we don’t always talk about the quality of the housing that exists,” said Abby Lemay, executive director of Rebuilding Together of Central Florida.
Hearts, Hands and Hope delivers and feeds more than 5,000 meals to the children of Seminole County each week. Running on grants and private donations, the organization has been able to distribute more than 30,000 meals since April 7, said the groups founder, Michelle Wilson.
Hearts, Hands and Hope wants to create a video showing who they are, the problems they take on and how people can get involved.
“We’ve discovered a lot of people don’t really know this organization exists,” Wilson said. “We’re so excited. I feel so honored to be selected. I know they had a lot of people to look through and for us to be selected, in the end, it’s going to help the children and that’s what we are all about.”
Paddle with a Purpose is a nonprofit that removes trash from waterways in local communities.
After completing two events at Lake Ivanhoe, they collected 144 pounds of trash from the lake, and since expanding from Broward County, they have collected more than 42,000 pounds of trash out of Florida’s waterways.
“Our main focus is action, like getting people out in the water and getting people that normally wouldn’t be involved in volunteering, excited about the cause,” said Robert Figueroa, founder and president of Paddle with a Purpose. “We know Macbeth to be super professional and polished and to create amazing content.”
Figueroa said his group would like to bring Macbeth Studio out to one of its events and show volunteers in action. By making a “Who We Are” video, Figueroa wants to show who Paddle with a Purpose is and its goals.
After the video is finished, it will be posted on their YouTube channel, which will be launched within the next month, and on its website.
“I’m just excited to see people’s reactions to the content,” said Jackie Dolan, director of operations for Macbeth Studio. “I hope that people are impressed and happy with what they receive, and I’m excited to form some more relationships and connections with other organizations I didn’t even know existed.”