Around 800 seniors at six high schools in the fire-ravaged communities of Altadena and Pasadena are going to prom for free this year. It’s all thanks to a charity called Alice’s Kids and actor-comedian Steve Carell.
In a video Tuesday, Carell announced that Alice’s Kids would be paying for the prom tickets of every senior at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Aveson Charter School, and Blair, Rose City, Pasadena and John Muir high schools. Those who already bought tickets will be reimbursed.
“Knowing the financial pressure families are feeling, we wanted to at least erase the worry of paying for prom tickets,” said Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of Alice’s Kids.
Prom tickets typically range from $80 to $130 each. The total amount of the contribution is $175,000.
The Eaton Fire ripped through the neighborhoods of Pasadena and Altadena on January 7, destroying over 14,000 acres and thousands of homes. Seventeen people died.