Paris Hilton’s 11:11 Media Impact Joins Forces with Pasadena Women’s Business Center at Pasadena City College to Support Women-Owned Businesses Impacted by Los Angeles Fires

Now open: Women-Owned Small Businesses can apply for $25,000 grant HERE; Initiative will Provide $300,000 in Grants and year-long Support, as well as Free Advising for over 100 Businesses

Paris Hilton’s nonprofit organization, 11:11 Media Impact, and GoFundMe.org, are joining forces with the Pasadena Women’s Business Center at Pasadena City College to provide crucial financial relief to women-owned small businesses devastated by the Eaton Fire. This initiative will be officially announced during today’s prestigious Upfront Summit, where both Hilton and GoFundMe’s CEO Tim Cadogan are speaking to discuss their continued commitment to empowering those facing immense financial challenges due to this year’s Southern California Wildfires. Now live at https://www.pasadenawbc.org/la-wildfire-relief-grant, people can submit and/or support the initiative.

This initiative prioritizes businesses that have suffered severe losses—whether from major property damage, significant revenue decline, or near closure—but have strong potential for recovery. 11:11 Media Impact’s Wildfire Relief Fund has committed $150,000 in direct grants to 11 women-owned businesses, a contribution that will be matched by GoFundMe.org, bringing the total relief fund to $300,000. Each selected small business will receive a $25,000 grant, while an additional $25,000 donation will be granted to the Pasadena Women’s Business Center at Pasadena City College to provide technical assistance and expert guidance, equating to approximately 300 hours of business coaching and free advising, to over 100 businesses.

“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,” said Paris Hilton, Founder of 11:11 Media and 11:11 Media Impact. “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.”

Paris Hilton has long been an advocate for women and children, using her platform to uplift this population through mentorship, funding, and advocacy. Through 11:11 Media Impact, she has supported initiatives aimed at amplifying female voices in traditionally male-dominated fields and funding female-led startups and artists.

By focusing on key local employers and essential service providers, this effort not only supports individual women-owned businesses, but also strengthens the broader community’s economic foundation.

“With more than $250 million raised on GoFundMe for LA Wildfire relief, and close to $7 million raised through GoFundMe.org’s Wildfire Relief Fund, we’ve seen an unbelievable display of kindness through the individuals helping those affected by the fires,” said Tim Cadogan, CEO of GoFundMe. “We are proud of GoFundMe.org’s response and this commitment to provide recovery assistance to the female entrepreneurs who are not only essential to Pasadena’s local economy, but also exemplify resilience, innovation, and the power of connecting communities for good."

"Alongside Paris Hilton and 11:11 Media Impact, GoFundMe.org remains committed to providing critical funding to help those impacted by the fires rebuild, recover, and thrive," said GoFundMe.org Executive Director, Amanda Brown Lierman. "By investing in female-led local businesses who are the backbone of the Pasadena community, we hope to not only help individuals get back on their feet, but also strengthen the local economy for long-term resilience and growth."

“This gift will provide a much-needed lifeline to small business owners in our community,” said Jose Gomez, superintendent/president of Pasadena City College. “PCC is grateful to 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org for their support of local business owners and of our Pasadena Women’s Business Center. With this gift we will continue aiding our community on the road to recovery.”

“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,” said Lizzy Okoro Davidson, Director of the Pasadena Women’s Business Center at Pasadena City College. “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.”

This initiative builds upon Paris Hilton’s previous philanthropic efforts in response to the LA wildfires, where her LA Wildfire Emergency Relief Fund raised over $1 million in under a week to support families, children, and displaced pets, including her pledge of the first $150,000 grant to GoFundMe.org’s Wildfire Relief Fund to provide immediate cash assistance to 150 displaced Altadena families. Through strategic partnerships, direct financial assistance, and on-the-ground volunteer efforts, 11:11 Media Impact remains committed to providing both immediate and long-term support to communities in crisis.

For more information on this initiative or to support the efforts, please visit https://www.pasadenawbc.org/la-wildfire-relief-grant. 

About 11:11 Media Impact
11:11 Media Impact, founded by Paris Hilton, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating meaningful and lasting change worldwide. Rooted in Paris’s lived experiences, the organization leverages strategic advocacy, socially-conscious storytelling, and philanthropic investments to address critical issues such as protecting children from institutional child abuse and fostering inclusion for individuals with learning and thinking differences.

Since its inception, 11:11 Media Impact has achieved significant milestones, including the passage of the federal Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, the enactment of 10 U.S. state laws safeguarding youth in residential treatment facilities, and the successful repatriation of American children from abusive facilities abroad. In addition to its child protection work, Paris has been a passionate advocate for ADHD awareness and a steadfast supporter of LGBTQIA+ direct service organizations.

With over 21.5 billion earned media impressions in 2024 alone, 11:11 Media Impact harnesses innovative strategies and Paris’s global influence to drive systemic change, deliver justice for survivors, and protect vulnerable children around the world.

About GoFundMe.org
A registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, GoFundMe.org launched in 2017 with a mission to quickly mobilize and distribute donations for individuals and communities impacted by crises, natural disasters, and social inequalities. Since then, GoFundMe.org has worked with partners and organizations to raise over $175 million into more than 225 funds, delivering 35,000+ grants to people with urgent needs, and organizations and programs driving critical social change. GoFundMe, Inc supports GoFundMe.org by sharing resources, funds, tools, and employees so that GoFundMe.org can raise and distribute cash grants for individuals and nonprofits in a low-cost and effective manner.

About GoFundMe
GoFundMe is a community-powered fundraising platform dedicated to helping people help each other. Founded in 2010, GoFundMe combines storytelling and fundraising to make it easy for people to ask for help, connect with supporters, and reach their goals. GoFundMe empowers individuals to make a meaningful difference for the causes and communities that matter most to them. Together with its nonprofit fundraising software business, Classy from GoFundMe, GoFundMe has enabled more than $30 billion of help since 2010 for communities across the globe.

About Pasadena Women’s Business Center
The Pasadena Women’s Business Center is hosted by Pasadena City College and funded by the Small Business Administration and CalOSBA. Our mission is to provide entrepreneurs and owners with no cost business technical assistance in the Los Angeles area by eliminating barriers and creating building blocks to success. The Pasadena WBC opened its doors in the Fall of 2024 and since the Eaton Fires has supported over 300 impacted businesses.