March 20, 2025 • 19 mins
Aired March 16, 2025: Alice's Kids: Lisa Foxx talks to Ron Fitzsimmons, the executive Director of Alice's Kids. They are a non-profit that works with teachers, counselors, social workers, police officers and more who apply for grants to help treat kids in need of school clothes, to pay for their summer camp, cover the cost of their prom ticket you name it.
Popular actor Steve Carell told high schoolers affected by the recent LA Wildfires, that he teamed up with the non-profit Alice's Kids to PAY FOR THEIR PROM TICKETS! The Virginia-based children's charity said that the prom promise will support approximately 800 students across six high schools, estimating the total cost to be around $175,000. Ron Fitzsimmons, the executive director of Alice's Kids, said Carell was asked to announce the pledge because so many young people binge-watched The Office during the pandemic.
To help a child and find out more, click HERE.
Popular actor Steve Carell told high schoolers affected by the recent LA Wildfires, that he teamed up with the non-profit Alice's Kids to PAY FOR THEIR PROM TICKETS! The Virginia-based children's charity said that the prom promise will support approximately 800 students across six high schools, estimating the total cost to be around $175,000. Ron Fitzsimmons, the executive director of Alice's Kids, said Carell was asked to announce the pledge because so many young people binge-watched The Office during the pandemic.
To help a child and find out more, click HERE.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Lisa Fox Heer, this is the iHeart So Cal Show,
our show that puts the spotlight on charitable organizations, nonprofits
and people giving back.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And who knew that Steve Carrell and his wife Nancy
were all about giving back.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
We know actor Steve Carrell, of course, an all time
favorite from the Office, The Anchorman, movies and so much more.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
He and his wife have huge hearts.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
And we know this because recently they were in the
news for surprising students in Alta, Dina, many of whom
lost their home in the Eaton fire. He surprised them
at a big senior assembly that was happening. He surprised
them with a big announcement about what was going to
be happening in terms of their prom here's the audio.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Attention ens is a Steve put with a very special announcement.
I'm with a wonderful charity as out of Virginia called
Alice's Kids.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
And Alice's kids wanted me.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
To let you know that they would be made for
all of your pompas William Virtue for your tickets.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
I mean, what a moment and such a kind gesture
for kids and these families that are going through so
much so.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Thank you Steve Carell. And so who is this a
charity that he's referencing Alice's kids?
Speaker 1 (01:22):
What are they all about? How this whole thing happen? Well,
let's ask their founder and executive director, Ronald Fitzimmons.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Hi, Ron Kiley, So please call me Ron, Ron.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
What a wonderful moment for these kids, Alice's kids going
to pay for the prompt tickets at about eight hundred
seniors at six High school in Alta, Dina.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
And how did this all come about?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
With Steve Carell making the big announcement and these tickets
being covered.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
I mean, y'all do so.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Much for kids all over the country. How did this
story come together?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Well, we got hooked up with Steve and Nancy I
don't know about seven years ago when out of Bob
Blue they just sent us a very generous donation online.
And yeah, it came through and it actually said Nancy Correll.
And I looked at it and I said, Nancy, that
sounds familiar, and I pushed it onto our finance person.
(02:15):
She came back and said, Ron.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Do you know who that is?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
She said that Steve's wife, and I went, oh my god.
And so I emailed Nancy right away and I said
thank you, thank you, thank you. When she was very nice,
very responsive, and it went from there. We just started
communicating email wise. I didn't ask for anything they were sending.
They send money every year to us. Wow. But I
(02:41):
did have a chance to meet with them in up
in the Studio City when I was out there, I
think three years ago, and it was Yeah, it was
amazing meeting with her and Steve, very down to earth people,
very unassuming, very private people. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Well, I feel like we know Nancy Carell because he
always teases are and Shelter out of all the award
shows over the years. So it is obviously they have
a right great relationship.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And like I said, good to know that they also
give all this money.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Now obviously their money has gone to different things over
the years until the fire. So how how does that work?
How do you decide when you get large donations? How
do you decide? You know, who gets what, which kids
get what?
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Yeah, when people donate, it goes into our one general fund.
We have one program, so it goes into the general
fund and we just respond every day to dozens, if
not more than that, requests to help children across the country,
and then we just draw from our general fund. So
(03:43):
you know, if someone is really generous and sends one
hundred thousand dollars, that goes in the same fund as
the person who's sent five dollars. Yeah, and it adds
up and adds up. And fortunately, over the years, we've
never had to say no to any child unless they
we're outside theline. But yeah, yeah, so we've grown tremendously
(04:03):
over the years.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
So wonderful.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Based in Virginia, Alice's Kids is a nonprofit that provides
anonymous financial assistance too. Well not this one wasn't anonymous,
but normally financial assistance to kids in need across the country. Teachers,
social workers, guidance counselors, police officers, and other officials may
request a grant through Alice's Kids for the needs or
even the wants of a child. Alice's Kids have funded
(04:26):
everything from new glasses to sporting equipment, to ged exam
fees and more. Yeah, I want to hear some of
the stories of the types of things that you get
requests for.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Oh my gosh, it's exhausting to put it this way.
First of all, last year we provided money for ten
thousand kids. Wow. But you know it's something as simple
as you know, a kid was evicted, the family was
evicted and they lost all their clothes, which was what
happened to me. Actually when I was growing up. It
(04:56):
could be like I said, glasses, it could be any
anything from field trips or to yearbooks. You know. All
the senior activities are very expensive, and we rely on
teachers and social workers for the most part to identify
the child and their particular need. They send us a
request and we respond within twenty four hours, and we
(05:18):
pay for the item. And what's attracts a lot of
attention is that the way we do it is if
someone asks for one hundred dollars for soccer cleats for
a kid, we send the teacher a hundred dollars gift
card to dick Sporting Goods or Walmart, whatever it might be.
Within twenty four hours, electronically, they turn around give it
(05:40):
to the parent. The parent turns around to the kid
and says, hey, Johnny, we're going to Dick's Sporting Goods
and we're going to get those soccer cleats.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
So the kids doesn't know they're getting charity. Their dignity
is preserved. There's a lot of shaming in charity, unintentional.
But so we're in the background and they don't know
about us, and you know, mom or dad or both
mom and dad have a chance to shine for a moment.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
And boy were these kids shining in that video that
went viral as actor Steve Krell announced to the group
that eight hundred of them there are prompt tickets will
be paid for it.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
If they already bought their prompt ticket, they'll be reimbursed.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
But then I started thinking, what does a promptict even
cost these days? It's been a long time since my
prominence thinging, how much does it even.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Cost these days?
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Plus they got to get the dress and rent the tuxedo,
and if they're going to do a limo, it can
get really pricey. So, you know, about just out of
curiosity about how much were the tickets that you guys
are covering.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
They range, of course from what I saw fifty dollars
in one high school, one small high school, two one
hundred and eighty five in another high school. Yeah, and yeah,
you're right about the costs because there's ancilliary costs. But
we'll cover all the costs for the prom ticket. But
what's happening is that other people are coming out of
(06:55):
the woodwork. We've got contacted. We've been contacted by a
limo service. Oh, limousines. People all across the country are
sending prom dresses to the schools.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
We have a company in New Jersey that makes prom
dresses and they're sending two hundred new prom dresses to
one of the schools.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
To our kids here in southern California. Yeah, oh my gosh,
I love that.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Is that crazy? We had nail salons, nail salons. I
want to do the kids nails for free.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I love it. I love all this love.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Lot of good out there. Yeah, there's a lot of
good out there, Lisa.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
There is.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
And the high schools receiving funding from Alice's kids include
John Muir High School, Avison Global Leadership Academy, Blair High School,
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Passing a High School, and Rose.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
City High School.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
And with so many of these kids and their families
directly affected and devastated.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
By this fire, I mean, can you imagine?
Speaker 1 (07:52):
I mean I can because we lost my boyfriend's home
and the Palisades fire.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
But being a kid going through this is just got
to be even harder correct, very tough time for so many.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Ron What about you know kids at Pally High and
in the paliss they pretty much well the whole neighborhood
to neighborhood also devastated. There on the high school. I
think only like one portion of the high school is
even still standing. What about their prom? Can we help
with their prom?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Yeah? I mean we picked the sixth in Altadena because
it's a slightly lower socioeconomic base end all, and we
can only do so much. But on the other hand,
we put this aside. We normally pay for a prom ticket,
So if a teacher in you know, somewhere in Los
Angeles has a kid who still needs a prom ticket,
pay for it. They should send us your request. And
(08:43):
they're happening. We're getting more and more requests from outside
of Altadena. Sure, which is cool. Yeah we'll pay for it,
but not as a whole group.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Okay, but still a way to help individual kids get
get get what they need, or at least apply to
get what they need.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
No matter what city you live in, no matter what state.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Could you help kids all over the country And this
whole thing with Steve Krell teaming up with you to
get all this attention to let even more people know
about the great work that you do and helping sow
many kids across the country with needs. Alice's Kids dot
org is or website, by the way, Alice's Kids dot org,
where you can go and learn all about them and
also submit for a grant. Make a request a request
(09:24):
form essentially right correct, it's.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Right on our homepage. If you're a teacher or a
social worker, or if you run a homeless shelter, anything
like that. If you're a government worker, you're allowed to
send a request to us, and it's on our homepage.
And it takes two minutes to fill out the request form.
It's very very short, and we do it.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Does a radio host count, Come on, Ron, we're pals.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Now.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
A member of the media is not official.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Have a teacher, Have a teacher submit a request if
you need help or child needs help.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Okay, that's what I was asking.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Can a person of the media be official enough to
submit for a kid that I may know that needs
help with an item or kind of like you know,
granting a wish so to speak. But it does have
to be some of the official on behalf of the child,
like Ron is saying, a teacher, preferably a teacher, social worker,
guidance counselor police officer. Like I said, if you run
a homeless shelter, you can request a grant on behalf
(10:19):
of a child in need at alice'skid dot Org. And Ron,
I want to ask you about your story. You referenced
earlier that you were pretty poor as a kid. Was
Alice your mom is this wonderful charity that gives back
to kids all over our country named after your mom's mom.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yeah. Yeah. Where we came up with this was that
when we were growing up, my father left the family
and we were on the New York state welfare system
for about three or four years. We stayed in the
same middle class town, West Islip, and we had no
money with it. After two weeks, the money was all
gone on food and rent, and we became the welfare family,
(11:00):
the welfare kids in that city, and wearing the same
shirt every day, not going to school, afraid to get
bullied because we report. Every once in a while, Alice
would get some money, extra money washing clothes or ironing clothes,
and she'd come running home and proudly announcing we're going
(11:20):
to go to the department store. We're going to get
you that new shirt run or Laura and my sister,
we're gonna get that new Beatles record. And to this
day we remembered that feeling of being lifted for a
moment and jumping on the school bus with our new
Converse sneakers. Jump ahead many decades, and you know, we
(11:42):
started this charity with that thought in mind to lift
kids with small grants that are still very, very important
to their self esteem.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
And I saw on the website Alice's Kids dot org
in terms of like the people who help run your charity,
is your sister also helped run the charity? Because I
saw Laura Fitzsimmons on the list there.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Yeah, yeah, she's down in Florida. She's the chair person
of our board. I'm the I'm the full time employee.
She's just hanging out on the beaches on the Gulf
of whatever it's called now.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Retirement vibes, retirement vibes.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah. Wait, and then who's.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
The other Fitzsimmons in your family that I saw the
Is that somebody's son, your son, her son?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
No, As part of the team. Part of the team,
oh on the website.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Patrick Patrick Fitzsimmons, my oldest, is an original board member
and Patrick was also our professional photographer, actually is a
professional photographer.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Look at that.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
See Yeah, So it's kind of like a family foundation
in some ways. But we have other people on the
board certainly, and.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Then you have this team, the small team that goes
through these requests. So once folks go to Alice's Kids
Dot org and it's a you know, people like Ron said, teachers,
social workers, counselors, if you run a homeless shelter, police
officers and other officials. That's how you can help a
kid that you notice or know of a story and
there's something that they are in need of, whether there's
shoes look bad, or you know they need a backpack
(13:12):
or like you said, as small or large. How large
have we gone aside from prom for eight hundred seniors,
which is pretty big.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Our average grands one hundred dollars. But I will say
that a few years ago we got contacted by a
teacher who had a kid in West Virginia who lived
on a farm and raised chickens to raise money for
his family, and the school decided to go to Ireland
for their senior class trip. Wow, cost two thousand dollars.
(13:44):
This kid didn't have a dime and we paid for
the hall.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
That's wonderful and probably a trip and a gesture that
probably changed his life, had such a positive impact on
his life that someone did.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
That for him.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Absolutely, And I'm Irish, so I poke a little bit.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Yeah happy almost Saint Patti's Day. I'm a wee bit
of Irish as well.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, So sometimes we do something special
at that, Like obviously.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
This became a very big public story because of Steve
Coroll and because of the fires and such a beautiful
gesture to help so many seniors here in Altadena after
the fires. But do you often know what happens after
you give these gift cards and do these acts of
Secret Santa to so many kids nationwide?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Do we do you get the do you get the
follow up story?
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Oh? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
First of all, there are some parents who tell the
kids that they're getting charity, that that someone's out there
that cares for them. So sometimes we get letters from kids.
We also go We have an Impact team. I think
it's eleven people and their job is to follow up
on some requests, not all of them. We just can't
do it. But to follow up and say, hey, did
(14:53):
that kid that we paid for a summer camp? Did
they go to camp? How did it go? Did they
have fun? Or did they go to the prompt and
what happened or how are they doing you know, on
there with their violin lessons. So we follow up a
lot to find out what happened with the kid, because
again we don't know the kid, I don't know their names.
(15:15):
But yeah, we get a lot of feedback. And I
will say one thing we a few years ago when
Kentucky had their tornadoes and ravaged Dawson Springs, Kentucky, I
flew there and we donated one hundred, one hundred dollars
gift cards to the seniors out there. And a few
months after the fact and we got the most amazing
(15:36):
letters of how kids spent one hundred dollars. And you
think they would spend it on, you know, frivolous things,
but there were kids who spent them on their grandmother,
to buy their grandmother a new rocking share, or to
you know, to fix their car so they can go
deliver food. One kid said, I don't need it. My
house is fine. I'm going to give it to my friend.
So we follow up as much as we can. Yeah, yeah, Yeah.
(16:01):
There's a lot of beauty out there that you know
that's not written about unfortunately, but we see it every day.
We see it every day.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Now, the bigger question around is how many times do
you cry at your job every day? Because I'm a crier.
I used to cry on this show every show, so
I mean it's emotional stuff.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Though, Oh god, you know, I tear up. You know,
I'm not. I don't sit here, you know, yeah, Ryan,
but I tear up because I'm reading. When I read
some of the requests, I'm reading about me as a kid.
And you know, when I see a kid can't afford
a baseball I was a big baseball player, but we
couldn't afford it. So I start to choke up a
(16:38):
little bit, you know. And then but the minute I
can hit the button and type in request approved, I
feel like Santa Claus. Yeah, I feel great. And I'm
watching that gift card fly across the country to get
into the hands of the parent in two or three days.
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Well, what a beautiful thing. Very cool in your mom's honor.
Is your mom still with us? Or does your mom
but heaven?
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Wait, yeah, she passed away about ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Did she know that you guys were were you're doing
this while she was still with us?
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Good point. It was longer than ten years ago. Oh
my gosh, because we started in twenty eleven, it was
longer than that. Yeah. Yeah, so she had no idea.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Ah, well, we know she knows and must be so
proud of you guys for carrying on this mission to
help so many kids in need across the country, including eight.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Hundred of our local seniors here from.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Local area schools devastated by the Eton fires, pay for
their prom tickets announced by actor Steve Carell, which was
a big deal, went and viral, and so I know
the kids are filling the love. And then, like you said,
other people calling to offer limos and dresses and to
do their nails. So it's all coming together because all
this love is just pouring in and it's so easy
(17:50):
for you to put in a request on behalf of
a child in need, no matter how big or small.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Ron Sosey gift cards are about a hundred bucks. But yeah, hey,
you never know.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
They did on for eight hundred and so you can
submit your request as long as you are some of
the official that works with kids, like a teacher, social worker,
guidance counselor police officer or other officials. Tell them who
you are, tell them the story about this child and
what they need. New shoes, pay per summer camp, a
baseball glove, prom ticket, you name it. Just put in
the request and ask, and hopefully you shall receive if
(18:22):
Ron hits the button at Alice's Kids dot Org.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
Lisa, where are you located, Lisa? Where physically in the area.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
We're Burbank. The radio station is in Burbank, right by
the airport when you fly in.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
All right, because I'll be coming out to one of them.
I'm coming out to one of the proms. I'd love
to meet love that if that's okay? Ron?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Are you inviting me to prom in Alta? Dina?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
No, I didn't say that.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Well, how to bring Eric my boyfriend?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
No?
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Oh wow, that's trying to get Nancy Nancy Corell.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
You go with me?
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Sure? That would be great.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Yeah, I'm going to go out I think on the
twenty fourth of May for one of the proms.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
We'll track again, Okay, sounds great. Ron, You're a sweetheart.
Much love to you and your family and the whole
team there at Alice's kids. Thank you, thank you for
all that you do.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
Much love to you, Lisa, hang in there, okay, We're
thinking about you.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I'll be looking forward to my hug, my in person
hug in May before we crash a few proms in
Alta Dina.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
You'll get Yeah, absolutely, Thanks Lis.
Lisa Fox Heer, this is the iHeart So Cal Show,
our show that puts the spotlight on charitable organizations, nonprofits
and people giving back.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
And who knew that Steve Carrell and his wife Nancy
were all about giving back.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
We know actor Steve Carrell, of course, an all time
favorite from the Office, The Anchorman, movies and so much more.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
He and his wife have huge hearts.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
And we know this because recently they were in the
news for surprising students in Alta, Dina, many of whom
lost their home in the Eaton fire. He surprised them
at a big senior assembly that was happening. He surprised
them with a big announcement about what was going to
be happening in terms of their prom here's the audio.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
Attention ens is a Steve put with a very special announcement.
I'm with a wonderful charity as out of Virginia called
Alice's Kids.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
And Alice's kids wanted me.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
To let you know that they would be made for
all of your pompas William Virtue for your tickets.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
I mean, what a moment and such a kind gesture
for kids and these families that are going through so
much so.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
Thank you Steve Carell. And so who is this a
charity that he's referencing Alice's kids?
Speaker 1 (01:22):
What are they all about? How this whole thing happen? Well,
let's ask their founder and executive director, Ronald Fitzimmons.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
Hi, Ron Kiley, So please call me Ron, Ron.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
What a wonderful moment for these kids, Alice's kids going
to pay for the prompt tickets at about eight hundred
seniors at six High school in Alta, Dina.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
And how did this all come about?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
With Steve Carell making the big announcement and these tickets
being covered.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
I mean, y'all do so.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
Much for kids all over the country. How did this
story come together?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Well, we got hooked up with Steve and Nancy I
don't know about seven years ago when out of Bob
Blue they just sent us a very generous donation online.
And yeah, it came through and it actually said Nancy Correll.
And I looked at it and I said, Nancy, that
sounds familiar, and I pushed it onto our finance person.
(02:15):
She came back and said, Ron.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Do you know who that is?
Speaker 4 (02:19):
She said that Steve's wife, and I went, oh my god.
And so I emailed Nancy right away and I said
thank you, thank you, thank you. When she was very nice,
very responsive, and it went from there. We just started
communicating email wise. I didn't ask for anything they were sending.
They send money every year to us. Wow. But I
(02:41):
did have a chance to meet with them in up
in the Studio City when I was out there, I
think three years ago, and it was Yeah, it was
amazing meeting with her and Steve, very down to earth people,
very unassuming, very private people. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Well, I feel like we know Nancy Carell because he
always teases are and Shelter out of all the award
shows over the years. So it is obviously they have
a right great relationship.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
And like I said, good to know that they also
give all this money.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Now obviously their money has gone to different things over
the years until the fire. So how how does that work?
How do you decide when you get large donations? How
do you decide? You know, who gets what, which kids
get what?
Speaker 4 (03:20):
Yeah, when people donate, it goes into our one general fund.
We have one program, so it goes into the general
fund and we just respond every day to dozens, if
not more than that, requests to help children across the country,
and then we just draw from our general fund. So
(03:43):
you know, if someone is really generous and sends one
hundred thousand dollars, that goes in the same fund as
the person who's sent five dollars. Yeah, and it adds
up and adds up. And fortunately, over the years, we've
never had to say no to any child unless they
we're outside theline. But yeah, yeah, so we've grown tremendously
(04:03):
over the years.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
So wonderful.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Based in Virginia, Alice's Kids is a nonprofit that provides
anonymous financial assistance too. Well not this one wasn't anonymous,
but normally financial assistance to kids in need across the country. Teachers,
social workers, guidance counselors, police officers, and other officials may
request a grant through Alice's Kids for the needs or
even the wants of a child. Alice's Kids have funded
(04:26):
everything from new glasses to sporting equipment, to ged exam
fees and more. Yeah, I want to hear some of
the stories of the types of things that you get
requests for.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Oh my gosh, it's exhausting to put it this way.
First of all, last year we provided money for ten
thousand kids. Wow. But you know it's something as simple
as you know, a kid was evicted, the family was
evicted and they lost all their clothes, which was what
happened to me. Actually when I was growing up. It
(04:56):
could be like I said, glasses, it could be any
anything from field trips or to yearbooks. You know. All
the senior activities are very expensive, and we rely on
teachers and social workers for the most part to identify
the child and their particular need. They send us a
request and we respond within twenty four hours, and we
(05:18):
pay for the item. And what's attracts a lot of
attention is that the way we do it is if
someone asks for one hundred dollars for soccer cleats for
a kid, we send the teacher a hundred dollars gift
card to dick Sporting Goods or Walmart, whatever it might be.
Within twenty four hours, electronically, they turn around give it
(05:40):
to the parent. The parent turns around to the kid
and says, hey, Johnny, we're going to Dick's Sporting Goods
and we're going to get those soccer cleats.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
So the kids doesn't know they're getting charity. Their dignity
is preserved. There's a lot of shaming in charity, unintentional.
But so we're in the background and they don't know
about us, and you know, mom or dad or both
mom and dad have a chance to shine for a moment.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
And boy were these kids shining in that video that
went viral as actor Steve Krell announced to the group
that eight hundred of them there are prompt tickets will
be paid for it.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
If they already bought their prompt ticket, they'll be reimbursed.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
But then I started thinking, what does a promptict even
cost these days? It's been a long time since my
prominence thinging, how much does it even.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
Cost these days?
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Plus they got to get the dress and rent the tuxedo,
and if they're going to do a limo, it can
get really pricey. So, you know, about just out of
curiosity about how much were the tickets that you guys
are covering.
Speaker 4 (06:35):
They range, of course from what I saw fifty dollars
in one high school, one small high school, two one
hundred and eighty five in another high school. Yeah, and yeah,
you're right about the costs because there's ancilliary costs. But
we'll cover all the costs for the prom ticket. But
what's happening is that other people are coming out of
(06:55):
the woodwork. We've got contacted. We've been contacted by a
limo service. Oh, limousines. People all across the country are
sending prom dresses to the schools.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
We have a company in New Jersey that makes prom
dresses and they're sending two hundred new prom dresses to
one of the schools.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
To our kids here in southern California. Yeah, oh my gosh,
I love that.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Is that crazy? We had nail salons, nail salons. I
want to do the kids nails for free.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
I love it. I love all this love.
Speaker 4 (07:27):
Lot of good out there. Yeah, there's a lot of
good out there, Lisa.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
There is.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
And the high schools receiving funding from Alice's kids include
John Muir High School, Avison Global Leadership Academy, Blair High School,
Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Passing a High School, and Rose.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
City High School.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
And with so many of these kids and their families
directly affected and devastated.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
By this fire, I mean, can you imagine?
Speaker 1 (07:52):
I mean I can because we lost my boyfriend's home
and the Palisades fire.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
But being a kid going through this is just got
to be even harder correct, very tough time for so many.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Ron What about you know kids at Pally High and
in the paliss they pretty much well the whole neighborhood
to neighborhood also devastated. There on the high school. I
think only like one portion of the high school is
even still standing. What about their prom? Can we help
with their prom?
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Yeah? I mean we picked the sixth in Altadena because
it's a slightly lower socioeconomic base end all, and we
can only do so much. But on the other hand,
we put this aside. We normally pay for a prom ticket,
So if a teacher in you know, somewhere in Los
Angeles has a kid who still needs a prom ticket,
pay for it. They should send us your request. And
(08:43):
they're happening. We're getting more and more requests from outside
of Altadena. Sure, which is cool. Yeah we'll pay for it,
but not as a whole group.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Okay, but still a way to help individual kids get
get get what they need, or at least apply to
get what they need.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
No matter what city you live in, no matter what state.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Could you help kids all over the country And this
whole thing with Steve Krell teaming up with you to
get all this attention to let even more people know
about the great work that you do and helping sow
many kids across the country with needs. Alice's Kids dot
org is or website, by the way, Alice's Kids dot org,
where you can go and learn all about them and
also submit for a grant. Make a request a request
(09:24):
form essentially right correct, it's.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Right on our homepage. If you're a teacher or a
social worker, or if you run a homeless shelter, anything
like that. If you're a government worker, you're allowed to
send a request to us, and it's on our homepage.
And it takes two minutes to fill out the request form.
It's very very short, and we do it.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Does a radio host count, Come on, Ron, we're pals.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
Now.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
A member of the media is not official.
Speaker 4 (09:50):
Have a teacher, Have a teacher submit a request if
you need help or child needs help.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Okay, that's what I was asking.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Can a person of the media be official enough to
submit for a kid that I may know that needs
help with an item or kind of like you know,
granting a wish so to speak. But it does have
to be some of the official on behalf of the child,
like Ron is saying, a teacher, preferably a teacher, social worker,
guidance counselor police officer. Like I said, if you run
a homeless shelter, you can request a grant on behalf
(10:19):
of a child in need at alice'skid dot Org. And Ron,
I want to ask you about your story. You referenced
earlier that you were pretty poor as a kid. Was
Alice your mom is this wonderful charity that gives back
to kids all over our country named after your mom's mom.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Yeah. Yeah. Where we came up with this was that
when we were growing up, my father left the family
and we were on the New York state welfare system
for about three or four years. We stayed in the
same middle class town, West Islip, and we had no
money with it. After two weeks, the money was all
gone on food and rent, and we became the welfare family,
(11:00):
the welfare kids in that city, and wearing the same
shirt every day, not going to school, afraid to get
bullied because we report. Every once in a while, Alice
would get some money, extra money washing clothes or ironing clothes,
and she'd come running home and proudly announcing we're going
(11:20):
to go to the department store. We're going to get
you that new shirt run or Laura and my sister,
we're gonna get that new Beatles record. And to this
day we remembered that feeling of being lifted for a
moment and jumping on the school bus with our new
Converse sneakers. Jump ahead many decades, and you know, we
(11:42):
started this charity with that thought in mind to lift
kids with small grants that are still very, very important
to their self esteem.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
And I saw on the website Alice's Kids dot org
in terms of like the people who help run your charity,
is your sister also helped run the charity? Because I
saw Laura Fitzsimmons on the list there.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Yeah, yeah, she's down in Florida. She's the chair person
of our board. I'm the I'm the full time employee.
She's just hanging out on the beaches on the Gulf
of whatever it's called now.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
Retirement vibes, retirement vibes.
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Yeah. Wait, and then who's.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
The other Fitzsimmons in your family that I saw the
Is that somebody's son, your son, her son?
Speaker 2 (12:28):
No, As part of the team. Part of the team,
oh on the website.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
Patrick Patrick Fitzsimmons, my oldest, is an original board member
and Patrick was also our professional photographer, actually is a
professional photographer.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Look at that.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
See Yeah, So it's kind of like a family foundation
in some ways. But we have other people on the
board certainly, and.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Then you have this team, the small team that goes
through these requests. So once folks go to Alice's Kids
Dot org and it's a you know, people like Ron said, teachers,
social workers, counselors, if you run a homeless shelter, police
officers and other officials. That's how you can help a
kid that you notice or know of a story and
there's something that they are in need of, whether there's
shoes look bad, or you know they need a backpack
(13:12):
or like you said, as small or large. How large
have we gone aside from prom for eight hundred seniors,
which is pretty big.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Our average grands one hundred dollars. But I will say
that a few years ago we got contacted by a
teacher who had a kid in West Virginia who lived
on a farm and raised chickens to raise money for
his family, and the school decided to go to Ireland
for their senior class trip. Wow, cost two thousand dollars.
(13:44):
This kid didn't have a dime and we paid for
the hall.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
That's wonderful and probably a trip and a gesture that
probably changed his life, had such a positive impact on
his life that someone did.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
That for him.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Absolutely, And I'm Irish, so I poke a little bit.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Yeah happy almost Saint Patti's Day. I'm a wee bit
of Irish as well.
Speaker 4 (14:06):
Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, So sometimes we do something special
at that, Like obviously.
Speaker 1 (14:11):
This became a very big public story because of Steve
Coroll and because of the fires and such a beautiful
gesture to help so many seniors here in Altadena after
the fires. But do you often know what happens after
you give these gift cards and do these acts of
Secret Santa to so many kids nationwide?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Do we do you get the do you get the
follow up story?
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Oh? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
First of all, there are some parents who tell the
kids that they're getting charity, that that someone's out there
that cares for them. So sometimes we get letters from kids.
We also go We have an Impact team. I think
it's eleven people and their job is to follow up
on some requests, not all of them. We just can't
do it. But to follow up and say, hey, did
(14:53):
that kid that we paid for a summer camp? Did
they go to camp? How did it go? Did they
have fun? Or did they go to the prompt and
what happened or how are they doing you know, on
there with their violin lessons. So we follow up a
lot to find out what happened with the kid, because
again we don't know the kid, I don't know their names.
(15:15):
But yeah, we get a lot of feedback. And I
will say one thing we a few years ago when
Kentucky had their tornadoes and ravaged Dawson Springs, Kentucky, I
flew there and we donated one hundred, one hundred dollars
gift cards to the seniors out there. And a few
months after the fact and we got the most amazing
(15:36):
letters of how kids spent one hundred dollars. And you
think they would spend it on, you know, frivolous things,
but there were kids who spent them on their grandmother,
to buy their grandmother a new rocking share, or to
you know, to fix their car so they can go
deliver food. One kid said, I don't need it. My
house is fine. I'm going to give it to my friend.
So we follow up as much as we can. Yeah, yeah, Yeah.
(16:01):
There's a lot of beauty out there that you know
that's not written about unfortunately, but we see it every day.
We see it every day.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Now, the bigger question around is how many times do
you cry at your job every day? Because I'm a crier.
I used to cry on this show every show, so
I mean it's emotional stuff.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Though, Oh god, you know, I tear up. You know,
I'm not. I don't sit here, you know, yeah, Ryan,
but I tear up because I'm reading. When I read
some of the requests, I'm reading about me as a kid.
And you know, when I see a kid can't afford
a baseball I was a big baseball player, but we
couldn't afford it. So I start to choke up a
(16:38):
little bit, you know. And then but the minute I
can hit the button and type in request approved, I
feel like Santa Claus. Yeah, I feel great. And I'm
watching that gift card fly across the country to get
into the hands of the parent in two or three days.
That's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Well, what a beautiful thing. Very cool in your mom's honor.
Is your mom still with us? Or does your mom
but heaven?
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Wait, yeah, she passed away about ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
Did she know that you guys were were you're doing
this while she was still with us?
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (17:08):
Good point. It was longer than ten years ago. Oh
my gosh, because we started in twenty eleven, it was
longer than that. Yeah. Yeah, so she had no idea.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
Ah, well, we know she knows and must be so
proud of you guys for carrying on this mission to
help so many kids in need across the country, including eight.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Hundred of our local seniors here from.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Local area schools devastated by the Eton fires, pay for
their prom tickets announced by actor Steve Carell, which was
a big deal, went and viral, and so I know
the kids are filling the love. And then, like you said,
other people calling to offer limos and dresses and to
do their nails. So it's all coming together because all
this love is just pouring in and it's so easy
(17:50):
for you to put in a request on behalf of
a child in need, no matter how big or small.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
Ron Sosey gift cards are about a hundred bucks. But yeah, hey,
you never know.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
They did on for eight hundred and so you can
submit your request as long as you are some of
the official that works with kids, like a teacher, social worker,
guidance counselor police officer or other officials. Tell them who
you are, tell them the story about this child and
what they need. New shoes, pay per summer camp, a
baseball glove, prom ticket, you name it. Just put in
the request and ask, and hopefully you shall receive if
(18:22):
Ron hits the button at Alice's Kids dot Org.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
Lisa, where are you located, Lisa? Where physically in the area.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
We're Burbank. The radio station is in Burbank, right by
the airport when you fly in.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
All right, because I'll be coming out to one of them.
I'm coming out to one of the proms. I'd love
to meet love that if that's okay? Ron?
Speaker 2 (18:42):
Are you inviting me to prom in Alta? Dina?
Speaker 4 (18:45):
No, I didn't say that.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Well, how to bring Eric my boyfriend?
Speaker 1 (18:49):
No?
Speaker 4 (18:50):
Oh wow, that's trying to get Nancy Nancy Corell.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
You go with me?
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Sure? That would be great.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Yeah, I'm going to go out I think on the
twenty fourth of May for one of the proms.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
We'll track again, Okay, sounds great. Ron, You're a sweetheart.
Much love to you and your family and the whole
team there at Alice's kids. Thank you, thank you for
all that you do.
Speaker 4 (19:08):
Much love to you, Lisa, hang in there, okay, We're
thinking about you.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (19:11):
I'll be looking forward to my hug, my in person
hug in May before we crash a few proms in
Alta Dina.
Speaker 4 (19:17):
You'll get Yeah, absolutely, Thanks Lis.
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