John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston and their daughter Ella Bleu arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of Old Dogs on Monday. (Katy Winn/Associated Press)

John Travolta thanked his hometown, Ocala, Fla., on Friday for supporting him and his family following the death of 16-year-old Jett Travolta in January.

The Ocala Star-Banner reported that Travolta expressed his gratitude to the residents of Ocala for helping him and his family get through a difficult period.

"Kelly, Ella and I want thank all of you," the actor said. "It's meant the world to us. We know that we have a community. We know that we have friends. And we know that we are loved."

Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston and their daughter Ella Bleu raised $37,500 US for charity at the Friday sneak preview of the Disney comedy Old Dogs in Ocala.

The preview was one of the Travoltas' first public appearances since Jett died in a Jan. 2 accident at the family's vacation home in the Bahamas.

The Travoltas shook hands, posed for photos and signed autographs for hundreds of fans at the private gala following the screening.

"The people of Ocala have a very big heart," Preston said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Following Jett's death, two men were charged with attempting to extort $25 million US from the actor over the release of private documents related to his son's medical treatment.

A mistrial was declared in October, and a new trial has been ordered.

Preston has said the first trial was so draining on Travolta that she doesn't want him to testify again.

But on Friday night, the Travoltas focused on celebrating the new film. They all appear in it, along with Robin Williams.

The money raised at the gala will go to five non-profit groups, including the Jett Travolta Foundation, created to assist children with special needs.

With files from The Associated Press