Paris Hilton Expands Philanthropic Mission with Major Disaster Recovery Fund
Pop culture icon and entrepreneur Paris Hilton has launched a significant new nationwide initiative to support women-owned small businesses impacted by disasters. The Back in Business Recovery Fund aims to raise at least $1 million by the end of March, with Hilton personally contributing $350,000 to kick-start the effort.
Building on Proven Success
This initiative represents an expansion of Hilton's philanthropic work that began following the devastating Los Angeles fires, which tragically destroyed her own Malibu home. The emotional experience of losing the home where she was raising her young children prompted Hilton to consider other mothers who had lost not only their homes but also their livelihoods.
"Women-owned businesses are really the heart of so many of these communities," Hilton told The Associated Press. "I want to be able to lift up and support them, shine a light on them and really make a difference in their lives."
A Powerful Partnership
The new fund represents a significant collaboration between Hilton's social impact organization, 11:11 Media Impact, and GoFundMe.org, the philanthropic arm of the popular fundraising platform. GoFundMe.org will contribute $100,000 to the fund's launch, creating a powerful partnership for disaster recovery.
This initiative builds directly on a previous successful program where Hilton and her partners deployed over $1 million in cash grants to 50 women-owned small businesses following the LA fires. The initial grants, up to $25,000 each, were distributed to owners of diverse businesses including child care centers, bakeries, bookshops, dance studios, and salons damaged by the Eaton fire that ravaged the Altadena community.
Remarkable Recovery Results
A year after the initial grants were distributed, an impressive 90 percent of these grantee businesses remain operational according to the Pasadena Women's Business Center, which itself received a grant to provide technical assistance and mentorship. The funds proved crucial in helping cover rent, payroll, equipment replacement, and rebuilding costs.
Among the beneficiaries was Renata Ortega, who ran her floral design company, Orla Floral Studio, from a converted garage next to her Altadena home. The fires obliterated her house and studio, along with all her floral and event equipment.
"Nothing prepares you for that amount of loss," Ortega told The Associated Press. "I didn't think I was going to be able to get back on my feet because it took me years to be able to come up with the inventory I had."
From Recovery to Growth
The grant enabled Ortega to pay the deposit on a new studio space and purchase a much-needed floral cooler. Today, Orla Floral is "booked and busy," she reported, having retained her staff and planning to hire another employee soon.
"It directly went into getting us back into business, but actually back and better than ever," Ortega said, crediting the grant with much of her recent growth. The support also provided a vital motivational boost as she simultaneously faced rebuilding both her home and livelihood.
Personal Connection and Inspiration
Hilton's engagement extended beyond financial aid; she also supported grantees as a customer, proudly wearing a catsuit from the apparel shop Crop It Like It's Hot at Coachella and hiring vendors like Carmela Ice Cream and Hot Shrimp Mami for her own events. These personal connections inspired her to "think bigger" about a national initiative.
"For so much of my career, I've been underestimated," said Hilton, a great-grandchild of hotel magnate Conrad N. Hilton. "I've worked very hard to show people that there's much more to me."
Addressing Systemic Challenges
Despite 14.5 million women-owned businesses in the US representing a 39 percent share according to Wells Fargo, women – particularly minority women – receive disproportionately less investment than men through venture capital and loan financing.
Rebecca Grone, director of 11:11 Media Impact, noted, "They are the most undercapitalised and underresourced, and particularly if primary caregiving responsibilities are falling on them too, sometimes that leads to increased recovery burden."
National Implementation Strategy
Like the LA program, the Back in Business Recovery Fund will distribute unrestricted grants, partnering with some of the 150 local women's business centers across the US. Collaborating with these centers will help quickly identify impacted women and provide access not only to cash but also to a supportive community of business owners facing similar challenges.
"It's really key to the success," explained Amanda Brown Lierman, executive director of GoFundMe.org. Decisions on when to activate the fund will also be informed by assessing impacts through these women's business centers.
Community-Wide Impact
While the money directly benefits owners, the broader impact targets the entire community, Grone added. Saving businesses protects jobs and tax revenue, but it also preserves the soul of communities, encouraging displaced residents to return home.
"You don't want to come back if the community isn't thriving, so as folks are rebuilding their homes, the things that are familiar and make a community feel like home are equally as crucial," she said.
Inspiring Others Through Storytelling
A YouTube series titled "Back in Business" highlighting some of the LA business owners was also released on Monday. "I hope it really inspires others to want to donate and give back," Hilton said.
Several of the LA grantees, including Ortega, joined Hilton on Monday afternoon to ring the New York Stock Exchange closing bell, marking International Women's Day. Hilton described it as one of her proudest moments, "showing the power of women when they come together."
