Latest news with #MarshallFundamentalSecondarySchool
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Limo company accused of scamming nonprofit, standing up Eaton fire survivors before prom
A limo company is accused of taking thousands of dollars that a nonprofit donated to help give young Eaton fire survivors a prom night to remember — then vanishing without a word, leaving two dozen dolled-up teenagers without a ride. Students at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, many of whom lost their homes in the January firestorm, were stood up Saturday by limousine service Wize Guy Entertainment, which nonprofit organization Alice's Kids had paid to transport them to the dance, according to the head of the nonprofit. "Alice's Kids is outraged and heartbroken over the failure of Shawn Lasley, owner of Wize Guy Entertainment, to provide limousine services — for which he was paid $4,320 — services meant to give 24 deserving high school students affected by the Eaton wildfires a special and memorable prom night," Sean Fitzsimmons, Alice's Kids executive director, said in a statement. Longtime Alice's Kids supporter Steve Carell released a video in March announcing that the Virginia-based nonprofit would donate $175,000 to cover prom tickets for some 800 students at six schools in Altadena and Pasadena. Fitzsimmons then traveled to Los Angeles last weekend to attend a preprom celebration and offered to cover the cost of the limo rides as a bonus. Read more: Pasadena high school seniors, Steve Carell has a surprise for you: Free prom tickets Lasley did not respond to The Times' request for comment. The Wize Guy Entertainment website was taken down after a slew of negative reviews were left by furious parents on the business' Yelp page. Altadena mother Carrie Meyers said she was enraged when she realized that the kids were being stood up. Meyers lost both her home that had been in the family for four decades and her business Steve's Pets, which was founded by her uncle in 1971, to the Eaton fire. This year has been a nightmare for the whole family, and she said this fiasco on a night that was meant to provide a joyful respite felt like a sucker punch. Read more: After the Eaton fire, they didn't think prom would happen. Now these teens are ready to dance Fortunately, the students still made it to prom after parents ordered Ubers for the group, Meyers said. But they did have to miss a professional photo shoot that was scheduled to take place en route. Fitzsimmons said Alice's Kids is committed to holding the limousine company accountable for the alleged no-show. "As a nonprofit dedicated to helping children in need, Alice's Kids finds this breach not only unacceptable, but a misuse of charitable funds," he said. "We are demanding a full refund and are prepared to pursue every legal and public avenue to ensure accountability." Meyers added that parents of the affected teens are also upset. "The point is, you don't mess with my kids," she said. "All us moms, you don't mess with our kids." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Limo company accused of scamming nonprofit, standing up Eaton fire survivors before prom
A limo company is accused of taking thousands of dollars that a nonprofit donated to help give young Eaton fire survivors a prom night to remember — then vanishing without a word, leaving two dozen dolled-up teenagers without a ride. Students at Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, many of whom lost their homes in the January firestorm, were stood up on Saturday by limousine service Wize Guy Entertainment, which nonprofit organization Alice's Kids had paid to transport them to the dance, according to the head of the nonprofit. 'Alice's Kids is outraged and heartbroken over the failure of Shawn Lasley, owner of Wize Guy Entertainment, to provide limousine services — for which he was paid $4,320 — services meant to give 24 deserving high school students affected by the Eaton wildfires a special and memorable prom night,' said Sean Fitzsimmons, Alice's Kids executive director, in a statement. Longtime Alice's Kids supporter Steve Carell released a video in March announcing that the Virginia-based nonprofit would donate $175,000 to cover prom tickets for some 800 students at six schools in Altadena and Pasadena. Fitzsimmons then traveled out to Los Angeles last weekend to attend a pre-prom celebration and offered to cover the cost of the limo rides as a bonus. Lasley did not respond to The Times' request for comment. The Wize Guy Entertainment website was taken down after a slew of negative reviews were left by furious parents on the business' Yelp page. Altadena mother Carrie Meyers said she was enraged when she realized that the kids were being stood up. Meyers lost both her home that had been in the family for four decades and her business Steve's Pets, which was founded by her uncle in 1971, to the Eaton fire. This year has been a nightmare for the whole family, and she said that this fiasco on a night that was meant to provide a joyful respite felt like a sucker punch. Fortunately, the students still made it to prom after parents ordered Ubers for the group, Meyers said. But they did have to miss a professional photo shoot that was scheduled to take place en route. Fitzsimmons said Alice's Kids is committed to holding the limousine company accountable for the alleged no-show. 'As a nonprofit dedicated to helping children in need, Alice's Kids finds this breach not only unacceptable, but a misuse of charitable funds,' he said. 'We are demanding a full refund and are prepared to pursue every legal and public avenue to ensure accountability.' Meyers added that parents of the impacted teens are also upset. 'The point is, you don't mess with my kids,' she said. 'All us moms, you don't mess with our kids.'
CBS News
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Steve Carell joins nonprofit for Altadena, Pasadena prom ticket giveaway
Actor Steve Carell announced to Altadena and Pasadena high school students this week that their prom tickets are paid for, thanks to a nonprofit donation. Alice's Kids, a Virginia-based nonprofit that helps children in need with extras, like back-to-school clothes, summer camp, instrument rentals, and more, provided the donation, with celebrity support from "The Office" star. Through video, Carell delivered the good news to students at six high schools in the Altadena and Pasadena areas. Today, about 800 seniors at 6 high schools in Altadena will see this message from our friend, Steve Carell. He's delivering the news that we are paying for their prom tickets! — Alice's Kids (@alicewillhelp) March 4, 2025 "Attention, attention all seniors, this is Steve Carrell with a very special announcement." That announcement was a $175,000 donation for 800 students to go to their school prom, an expense that may be difficult for families to incur, especially after the Eaton Fire. "I work with a very special charity out of Virginia called Alice's Kids, and Alice's Kids wanted me to let you know that they will be paying for all of your prom tickets, and if you have already paid for your prom tickets, they will reimburse you for your prom tickets," his announcement continued. The charity issued the donation in response to the financial pressures many families affected by the wildfires are facing. "Going to prom should be a celebration, and we wanted to help make the big night just a little easier for seniors whose lives have been turned upside down by the wildfires," said Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of Alice's Kids. "Senior year is a turning point, and hopefully this allows the students to unwind and have some fun after a devasting year." Students across six schools benefitted from the donation, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena High School, Aveson Charter School, John Muir High School, Rose City High School, and Blair High School.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pasadena high school seniors, Steve Carell has a surprise for you: Free prom tickets
"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, described by the charity as a "longtime supporter," 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." Read more: Among thousands of Angelenos displaced by fires, celebrities face the same devastating losses 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 reportedly vary in price, ranging from $50 to $200 each. "Surprises and smiles, another day in Stangland," reads the Instagram caption. Read more: LAUSD sets aside $2.2 billion to rebuild burned campuses, make schools more resilient 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 school sites of the Pasadena Unified School District — which educates 14,000 students — were also severely damaged or destroyed in the fire. "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. 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. Read more: Column: Stay in Altadena? 'We're torn, because we love this neighborhood and we love all these people.' 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. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Pasadena high school seniors, Steve Carell has a surprise for you: free prom tickets
'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, described by the charity as a 'longtime supporter,' 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 reportedly vary in price, ranging from $50 to $200 each. 'Surprises and smiles, another day in Stangland,' reads the Instagram caption. 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 school sites of the Pasadena Unified School District — which educates 14,000 students — were also severely damaged or destroyed in the fire. '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. 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.
