James “EJ” Ellison and Jan Pinkney thought they were coming on The Ko Show to talk about their recent tragedies, but they were actually called to the station to receive a gift from Rickey Smiley and his foundation.
Ellison, a former Baltimore police officer who currently works for the Ravens security team, lost his wife and 8-year-old daughter to a house fire back in November 2015. Pinkney, a Morgan State graduate and community activist who owns a group home, just lost his son to a heart attack last week.
The team caught wind about the news and used $1300 Rickey Smiley raised for a Baltimore family in need during one of his shows at the Baltimore Comedy Factory last month to gift them. The Rickey Smiley Foundation matched what was raised so they could provide that amount for two families. Shoe City reps were also on site to gift the guys with $500 shopping sprees.
Listen to their stories below…
