Paris Hilton, GoFundMe Launch $300,000 Wildfire Relief Grant for Local Women-Owned Businesses

At the prestigious Upfront Summit, Paris Hilton’s 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org will unveil a comprehensive $300,000 grant initiative to support women-owned small businesses devastated by the Eaton Fire. The collaborative effort will provide direct financial assistance and year-long support to help local entrepreneurs recover from significant fire damage.

“Supporting women entrepreneurs is deeply personal to me, as is helping those impacted by my community’s devastating wildfires. I’m so proud to support the Pasadena Women’s Business Center and help resilient female business owners recover and rebuild. This initiative continues the incredible impact we’ve already made alongside GoFundMe.org. Together, we will ensure these women-owned small businesses get the support they need to flourish,” said Hilton, Founder of 11:11 Media Impact.

The initiative will distribute $25,000 grants to 11 women-owned businesses, with funding matched by GoFundMe.org. An additional $25,000 will support the Pasadena Women’s Business Center, providing approximately 300 hours of business coaching to over 100 businesses. The program prioritizes businesses with strong recovery potential that have suffered significant property damage, revenue decline, or near closure.

“When small businesses thrive, our entire community benefits. At the Pasadena Women’s Business Center, our mission is to ensure that every entrepreneur who dares to chase their dream has the opportunity to succeed. We’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of the fires, but we’ve also seen resilience, hope, and determination. Partnering with Paris Hilton and 11:11 Media, alongside GoFundMe.org, allows us to turn that resilience into real recovery—ensuring that small businesses not only rebuild but continue to grow and win,” said Lizzy Okoro Davidson, Director of the Pasadena Women’s Business Center.

The grant builds on Hilton’s extensive philanthropic work, which includes significant achievements such as passing the federal Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, enacting 10 U.S. state laws protecting youth in residential facilities, and generating over 21.5 billion media impressions in 2024. GoFundMe.org has raised over $250 million for LA Wildfire relief, with close to $7 million specifically through its Wildfire Relief Fund.

The Pasadena Women’s Business Center, which opened in Fall 2024 and has already supported over 300 impacted businesses, will play a crucial role in distributing the grants and providing ongoing support.

Interested businesses can apply for the grant at https://www.pasadenawbc.org/la-wildfire-relief-grant.