Paris Hilton launches recovery fund for women business owners after disasters

The pop culture star and entrepreneur is donating $350,000 to start the Back in Business Recovery Fund.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Paris Hilton has launched a new national fund to help women-owned small businesses recover after disasters. Hilton is donating $350,000 to kick-start the Back in Business Recovery Fund, with a goal to raise at least $1 million by the end of March. The initiative will be 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.

Why it matters

Women-owned businesses are often the heart of their communities, but they face disproportionate challenges in accessing capital and recovering from disasters. This fund aims to provide critical support to help these businesses get back on their feet and thrive after setbacks.

The details

The new Back in Business Recovery Fund will distribute unrestricted grants to women-owned small businesses impacted by disasters, partnering with local women's business centers across the U.S. to quickly identify and assist affected owners. The fund was inspired by Hilton's previous efforts to support women entrepreneurs in Altadena, California, after the 2025 Los Angeles fires, where she deployed over $1 million in grants to 50 businesses.

  • Hilton launched the Back in Business Recovery Fund on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • The goal is to raise at least $1 million for the fund by the end of March 2026.

The players

Paris Hilton

A pop culture star, advocate, and entrepreneur who is donating $350,000 to start the Back in Business Recovery Fund.

GoFundMe.org

The philanthropic arm of the fundraising platform GoFundMe, which is contributing $100,000 to the launch of the Back in Business Recovery Fund.

11:11 Media Impact

Hilton's social impact organization, which is partnering with GoFundMe.org on the Back in Business Recovery Fund.

Renata Ortega

The owner of Orla Floral Studio, a floral design company that received a grant from Hilton's previous disaster relief efforts in Altadena, California.

Rebecca Grone

The director of 11:11 Media Impact, Hilton's social impact organization.

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What they’re saying

“Women-owned businesses are really the heart of so many of these communities. I want to be able to lift up and support them, shine a light on them and really make a difference in their lives.”

— Paris Hilton (The Associated Press)

“Nothing prepares you for that amount of loss. 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.”

— Renata Ortega, Owner, Orla Floral Studio (The Associated Press)

“You have to keep going and you have keep pushing and fighting forward, because if somebody like Paris Hilton notices your story and thinks you're important, then you have to believe in yourself and also think that you're important.”

— Renata Ortega, Owner, Orla Floral Studio (The Associated Press)

What’s next

Several of the LA grantees, including Renata Ortega, will join Paris Hilton on Monday afternoon to ring the New York Stock Exchange closing bell, marking International Women's Day.

The takeaway

This fund demonstrates how celebrity philanthropists can leverage their platforms to provide critical support to underserved small business owners, especially women, who face unique challenges in recovering from disasters. By partnering with local organizations, the Back in Business Recovery Fund aims to quickly identify and assist affected businesses to help preserve the heart and soul of communities.