Sweetening Homeless Teens' Lives In

Hollywood

1.7 million children in the U.S. experience homelessness – facing not only hunger, but loneliness and rejection. After he found himself out on the streets, Rotimi Rainwater, a former U.S. Navy marine, decided to do something about this issue. He has directed “Sugar,” a film about the life of homeless teens that will be released in September. Based on Rainwater’s experience,“Sugar” is a drama that depicts the life of a teen who ends up living on the streets of Venice Beach, CA, after her parent’s death.

With a cast that is half homeless, part of the proceeds from “Sugar” will go towards helping to get them out of the streets of Los Angeles. Also, some of the donations collected through the Indiegogo online funding campaign will help to provide free meals to homeless youth. Meanwhile, an array of successful actors and producers have supported the movie’s cause. “90210’s” Shenae Grimes, from “One Life to Live,” and “True Blood’s” Marshall Allman all contributed their talents to “Sugar.” As a Los Angeles investment manager and philanthropist, Elliott Broidy was also moved by this production’s cause. Broidy has fostered the promotion and success of “Sugar.” Even before its official release, the movie has been largely acclaimed. Following a request by Karen Bass, House Representative of California, “Sugar” was screened on June 27th in Congress. In addition, the movie won the “Film Heals Award” at the Manhattan Film Festival and has gotten five of its cast members out of the streets.