“Despicable Me” star Steve Carell delivered some Gru-d news for hundreds of Southern California high school students affected by this year’s devastating wildfires.
The beloved “Office” and “Evan Almighty” comedian announced on Tuesday that he is working with a Virginia-based charity to send every senior at six Pasadena high schools to their respective proms — for free. In an Instagram video, Carell informed students that the charity “Alice’s Kids wanted me to let you know that they will be paying for all of your prom tickets.”
The actor, a long-time donor for the charity, added: “And if you have already paid for your prom tickets, they will reimburse you for your prom tickets. It’s a pretty good deal.”
Alice’s Kids said in a Tuesday news release that it will donate approximately $175,000 to send more than 800 students to their dances. The offer will extend to students at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Aveson Charter School, and Blair, Rose City, Pasadena and John Muir high schools, the release said.
Students at John Muir High School got word of Carell’s “very special announcement” on Tuesday during an assembly. Video shared to the school’s Instagram page shows students clapping and cheering for the news. And why not? Prom tickets across the selected schools vary in price, ranging from $80 to $130 each.
“Knowing the financial pressure families are feeling, we wanted to at least erase the worry of paying for prom tickets,” Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of Alice’s Kids, said in Tuesday’s release.
Free prom tickets could provide relief to the high school seniors, whose graduating year was upended by the ferocious Eaton fire in January. The blazes ravaged much of the Altadena neighborhood, destroyed about 9,000 homes and killed 17 people. Five Pasadena Unified School District school sites — which educates 14,000 students — were also severely damaged or destroyed in the fire.
On Wednesday, Supt. Elizabeth Blanco told The Times that the district is grateful for the support from Carell and Alice’s Kids. District families will appreciate “knowing that something’s taken off their plate and their students can still have joy and experience this milestone in their lives,” she said.
This week’s gesture is the latest boon of community support for students, families and staff affected by the fire. Blanco said more than 800 students and more than 100 staff members across the district lost their homes in January’s blazes. “Our students do need hope,” Blanco said, adding that the surprise for seniors means more than just a free ticket.
“It represents hope, resilience and the support of a wider community that cares about the children and families,” she said.
Since the wildfires (including the Palisades fire that tore through the coast) in January, handfuls of celebrities and Hollywood entities have shown their support for SoCal communities. Now, Carell is part of the mix.
As Pasadena’s high school students face the long road of recovery and rebuilding their community, Carell reminded them to “have fun.”
He concluded his video: “Enjoy the prom. And remember, this is Steve Carell. Take it easy, guys.”
Times staff writers Teresa Watanabe and Daniel Miller contributed to this report.
