One’s high school prom is the stuff of which memories–and famous scenes in movies and TV series a la Pretty in Pink, Grease and Netflix’s The Prom–are made. But for the graduating senior year class at John Muir High School in Pasadena, those dreams of fancy dresses, tuxedo cummerbunds and corsages are coming on the heels of the devastating Eaton Fire, a blaze that destroyed the homes of 200 John Muir students and left many wondering how they were going to rebuild–and where. For many of these kids, including those from Altadena, a town decimated by the fire, buying prom tickets ($200 a pop) is a teenage luxury they just can’t afford.
Enter Oscar-nominated actor and comedian Steve Carell. Carell, whose landmark performances in such modern-day classics as The Office, Foxcatcher and Little Miss Sunshine have left an indelible imprint on global pop culture, has swept in and saved the day at John Muir High. Through the Virginia-based philanthropic organization Alice’s Kids, Carell will foot the cost of prom for not only the seniors at John Muir, but all six high schools within the Pasadena Unified School District, six of which were either severely damaged or destroyed.
"I just really want to thank Alice's Kids for doing this for our seniors," says John Muir High School Principal Dr. Lawton Gray III. "I can't express how much it is appreciated, especially during this time of need for our community, that this group would step up for our students. And we're just so grateful. The students are grateful, the parents are grateful. We're just so excited for this opportunity."
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