Paris Hilton has launched a nationwide recovery fund to support female small-business owners impacted by disasters. The Back in Business Recovery Fund aims to raise at least $1 million by the end of March, with a $350,000 donation from Hilton to kick-start the initiative.
The fund is a partnership between Hilton's social impact organization 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org, which will contribute $100,000 to the fund's launch. The initiative is a nationwide expansion of Hilton's philanthropic support for women entrepreneurs after the 2025 Los Angeles fires.
Hilton's own Malibu home was destroyed in the fires, and she has been working to support women-owned businesses that were also impacted. The grants of up to $25,000 have helped cover rent, payroll, replacing equipment, and rebuilding for businesses such as child care centers, bakeries, bookshops, dance studios, and salons.
One year after the grants were distributed, 90% of the businesses are still operating, according to the Pasadena Women's Business Center. The grantees include Renata Ortega, who runs her floral design company Orla Floral Studio, which was able to recover and grow thanks to the grant.
The Back in Business Recovery Fund will distribute unrestricted grants to women-owned businesses impacted by disasters, partnering with local women's business centers across the US. The fund aims to support not just the businesses, but also the communities they serve.
