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The deadly Los Angeles wildfires had just begun when Comic Relief U.S.’s new CEO took the helm at the charity that uses entertainment to combat poverty. Michele Ganeless noticed Hollywood’s response all the way from New York. She saw late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel turn his show’s backlot into a donation center. The Largo, an intimate nightclub featuring A-list comedians, hosted benefit performances. Inspired, Ganeless saw an opportunity to help out from the nations other cultural hub through Stand-Up for LA. The goal was to help the New York comedy community give back,” Ganeless said of the March 3 comedy event including Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Ramy Youssef and Hannah Berner at The Town Hall in Manhattan. Everybody has their own special connection,” she added. But, obviously, in the entertainment community and the comedy community, there is a New York-LA connection. Disasters tend to elicit widespread support for those impacted and researchers say meaningful relationships drive charitable donations. The six weeks since Los Angeles’ most destructive wildfires have proven no different. FireAid raised an estimated $100 million with performances from dozens of popular musical acts. But the unique relationship between the United States’ two largest cities has been evident in the fundraisers organized by New York’s entertainment, creative and hospitality industries motivated by their professions’ bicoastal ties. Comic Relief US’ grantees on the ground including actress Taraji P. Henson’s foundation dedicated to marginalized communities’ mental health, youth homelessness nonprofit Covenant House and The Boys & Girls Club are helping the nonprofit determine the areas of greatest need. Berner, a former reality show cast member who has become a fixture of internet comedy, promised a fun night at Stand-Up for LA and called it a joy to also fundraise for families. I was born and raised in New York and have seen others rally for us when we needed it, Berner said in a statement. And now its our turn to show up for L.A. during their difficult time. TV personality Andy Cohen is offering fans the chance to be guests at a New York taping of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live.” With a donation of at least $10 until April 6, entrants could win a behind-the-scenes experience, airfare and lodging. The beneficiary is the SoCal Fire Fund, which works with vulnerable students, school employees and families recovering from the blazes. As completely different as they are, New York and Los Angeles are inexorably connected; when a calamity happens on either coast its just instinctual that we support each other,” Cohen said in a statement to The Associated Press. It isn’t just celebrities getting involved. Over 170 people bought tickets for a benefit show on a recent Friday night in Brooklyn. The organizers, artist manager Heather de Armas and music publicist Ava Tunnicliffe, donated the $3,275 in proceeds to Mutual Aid LA. The wildfires felt more present as the two watched the devastation unfold through social media posts. The majority of Tunnicliffe’s clients and coworkers are based in the Los Angeles area. Alt-pop vocalist B.Miles told the crowd “this is a very special thing to be a part of because the Pasadena native still has family there. It was easy to get people on board to help out what I would call our sister city, Tunnicliffe said. And I think they would do the same for us. Carlos Quirarte, co-founder of Ray’s Bar, wasn’t sure anyone would pitch in for a clothing drive he organized at his locations in Greenpoint and the Lower East Side. But people overwhelmed their tiny, little spaces, he said, and local movers Piece of Cake dropped off 300 boxes for shipping. Skateboarder Mark Gonzales, a longtime Supreme collaborator, donated six boxes of the streetwear brand’s merchandise. Customers again showed up for a Jan. 18 fundraiser. Guests’ $20 entry fees and $1 of every drink purchase went to World Central Kitchen. Quirarte said the event, co-sponsored by dating app Bumble, garnered more than $20,000. It wasn’t the first time that he and his business partner have rallied their clientele around communities impacted by disasters. A 2012 power-on party after Hurricane Sandy stands out as the craziest example, he said. But he’s still blown away by the response. We just have so many regulars at both locations that are transplants. So, you were hearing stories at the bar,” Quirarte said. Aside from that, and aside from having a mass bunch of friends from the area, you couldnt help but feel. And its here. Its at home. A seven-hour fundraiser bridging coasts brought together runners, cooks, artists, musicians and yogis on January 25. Gina Bruno, a classically trained chef from New York who runs a food-focused event space, said the idea began as just a bake sale. But the concept snowballed into something more ambitious after she texted Luke Haverty, the founder of a creative studio called A Supper Series. The bake-off continued with participants including lifestyle photographer Chloé Crane-Leroux and James Beard Award winner Sophia Roe who have a combined 1.8 million Instagram followers as well as viral spots L’Appartement 4F and Leon’s Bagels. A 5K run took participants across the Williamsburg Bridge. There was live music, a bouquet workshop and yoga classes. For LA raised $52,000 for California Community Foundation and World Central Kitchen, according to Haverty. A silent auction supported a GoFundMe for Los Angeles artists. Haverty said they felt a responsibility to provide as many ways as possible for people to put their individual talents toward something bigger than one small donation. Once there was a platform for people to be able to invest into, that ultimately is what connected the coast, he said. You kind of put your hands up in the air until there’s something to dump your time and your energy into, Bruno added. I needed to do something because I was able to do something. Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. James Pollard, Associated Press
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Prada opened its runway show during Milan Fashion Week on Thursday with its take on the little black dress, reflecting what Miuccia Prada called a very black moment in world affairs. To work in this difficult moment is really tough, Prada said backstage. Sidestepping overtly political discussion, she added: What we try to do are clothes that make sense for women today.” Liberating women Prada’s Fall-Winter 2025-26 collection is aimed to liberate women from strictly feminine forms. In that way the little black dress series and other runway looks were loosely constructed, not body-hugging. Co-creative director Raf Simons said liberation was in itself an act of resistance. You cannot be liberated if you don’t take a risk. There needs to be more resistance, he said. The black numbers gave way to girlish knit dresses in Alice-in-Wonderland oversized proportions, layered over trousers for winter days on the playground. Pajamas made a now-familiar shift to daywear, with button tops tucked into sleeper skirts. Raw seams were intentionally revealed on garments. Waistlines were gathered as if by basting, and could be moved from the waist for a midi-skirt or over the bust for a minidress. I would also say that we have rejected a lot of construction,” Simons said, specifically construction that restricts movement. Gestures of glamour Its a mix-and-match world at Prada and just about any of the pieces work as separates: Short-sleeve and tube knitwear tops were bedecked with baubles, like found treasures. Mens shirts scrunched messily at the waist, as if they came untucked. Staples were glammed up with faux fur stoles and fur lapels on coats, blazers and a striking lime green poncho. Prada VIPs American actress Hunter Schafer was among the front-row guests, invited in a show of support, the designers said. The trans actress posted recently that her new passport had been issued with a male gender marker. As usual, crowds of fans waited opposite the Fondazione Prada show space to shower adoration on VIPs. Other front-row stars included actresses Juliette Binoche, Gal Gadot, Maya Hawke and Chen Haoyu, along with Japanese singers Jo and Harua and Korean singer Karina. Is Prada shopping? Milan is abuzz with speculation over whether an Italian company might step forward to buy the rival fashion house Versace. Market speculation has focused on the Prada Group, which besides its namesake brand owns Miu Miu, the footwear brands Church’s and Car Shoe, and Marchesi 1824 pastry shops. “I think it is on everybodys table,” Prada said with a chuckle when asked about the Prada Group’s interest. Colleen Barry, AP fashion writer
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Stripe on Thursday announced a tender offer for employees and shareholders that valued the company at $91.5 billion, nearly 41% higher than its valuation a year ago, potentially delaying the fintech firm’s ambitions of going public. The deal signals the strong recovery of the global venture capital sector, as central banks have started to cut interest rates amid subdued inflation and strong economic data. “Stripe was profitable in 2024, and we expect to be so in 2025 and beyond,” co-founders John Collison and Patrick Collison said in their annual letter published on Thursday. The payments processing company was valued at $65 billion in a deal last year, which allowed employees to cash out their stock. At its peak, Stripe was valued at $95 billion in 2021. The company serves a variety of high-profile customers, including Elon Musk-led social media platform X, Amazon, car rental firm Hertz Global and grocery delivery app Instacart. Stripe, which has headquarters in San Francisco and Dublin, allows companies to accept payments, send payouts and automate financial processes. Pritam Biswas and Jaiveer Shekhawat, Reuters
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