Hosting an Innocence Benefit Event
DNA exonerations expose the causes of wrongful convictions, and public awareness and citizen participation is essential in the movement towards ending these injustices.
Whether you’re looking to educate, fundraise, or raise awareness, you can help free the innocent and prevent future wrongful convictions by hosting an event in your community.
The following are suggestions on how to host an Innocence Project of Florida benefit. Host a book club*, film screening*, other fundraising event, or invite a speaker from IPF to spread the mission of our organization and educate others about wrongful convictions.
If you're looking to throw an event to our benefit and need assistance or more information on how to make your event a success, our development staff can assist you, simply submit a contact form here.
​
Learn more about how you and your guests' donations support the work of the Innocence Project of Florida here.
​
*Remember if you link from our page to Amazon to purchase the book or video, a portion of the sale benefits IPF.
Films
After Innocence
This 2005 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize-winning documentary focuses on seven men wrongfully imprisoned for decades and then exonerated through DNA evidence. The film follows their stories and their efforts to rebuild their lives after their exonerations. It is available for purchase through Amazon.com.
​
Conviction
This 2010 film tells the true story of Betty Ann Waters, whose brother, Kenny Waters, was wrongfully convicted of murder and began serving a life sentence in 1983. The story follows Betty Anne’s journey towards proving her brother’s innocence with the help of the Innocence Project. It is available for purchase through Amazon.com.
The Central Park Five
This Ken Burns film follows the five young, black and Latino men who were wrongfully convicted of rape and assault in 1989. The victim was brutally attacked and assaulted during a late night run in Central Park. The documentary discusses the case, the questions, and the emotions directly with the men of the Central Park Five. It is available for purchase through Amazon.com.
Books
The Innocent Man
The first work of nonfiction by John Grisham tells the story of two men’s wrongful convictions and subsequent exonerations. It is available through Amazon.com.
Actual Innocence
Includes stories of actual cases, combined with broader context on the causes of wrongful convictions and efforts to reform the criminal justice system. It is available through Amazon.com.
Picking Cotton
A dual-memoir written by the exonerated Ronald Cotton and the victim who misidentified him, Jennifer Thompson. It not only discusses the 1984 case that landed Cotton in prison and loaded Thompson with haunting guilt, but delves into the effects of eyewitness identification on both parties.It is available through Amazon.com.
​
False Justice: Eight Myths That Convict the Innocent
False Justice corrects these common misunderstandings with an important truth: true justice requires constant vigilance and is the responsibility every citizen. Available here through Amazon.com.
Fundraiser
You are welcome to organize your own fundraising event to benefit IPF.
​
Should you have any questions or need assistance in the organizing of a larger gathering, our development staff is available to assist. Please submit a contact form here with information about the event you would like to hold.
​
All donations made to IPF are tax deductible. Donations should be sent to our office.
​
Click here to contact us for assistance or view our mailing address.
Speaker
The Innocence Project of Florida generally welcomes the opportunity to share about our work, the men exonerated in Florida, and the causes and remedies of wrongful conviction.
Our staff and exonerees travel statewide to speak about IPF's mission. We often participate in panels, film screenings, book launches, and other events related to educational or criminal justice initiatives.
​
Keeping in mind that we are a small non-profit organization, we ask if an IPF staff member participates you raise enough money to cover our travel costs. If an exoneree also participates, we ask that you provide a modest honorarium to him.
​
We look forward to collaborating with you and sharing the mission of the Innocence Project of Florida.
​