- 50 women-owned businesses receive $25,000 recovery grants
- Partnership between 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org expands relief
- Eaton Fire destroyed 1,800+ businesses generating $1.4 billion annually
When flames tore through Los Angeles County’s Eaton Fire zone, Annisa Faquir’s family legacy—the Little Red Hen Coffee Shop—vanished in ashes. Now, a lifeline from Paris Hilton’s nonprofit is helping Faquir and 49 other female entrepreneurs rebuild. The 11:11 Media Impact initiative, in collaboration with GoFundMe.org, offers $25,000 grants to businesses ranging from childcare centers to floral studios, prioritizing those with deep community roots.
Over 1,800 local enterprises operated in the Eaton and Palisades fire zones, employing nearly 10,000 workers and contributing $1.4 billion to the regional economy annually. Los Angeles County’s Economic Development Corporation warns that long-term economic losses could reach billions. Emergency grants are critical to prevent permanent closures,explains Kelly LoBianco, director of the county’s Economic Opportunity Department. Many business owners face compounded challenges: 75% lacked adequate insurance pre-disaster, and some still owe COVID-19 relief loans.
The grant program’s streamlined application process contrasts sharply with other aid systems. They saw our humanity, not just spreadsheets,says Faquir, whose family aims to repurchase their diner’s land after 53 years of leasing. Renata Ortega, owner of Orla Floral Studio, shares this sentiment. After losing her home and workspace, she’s using funds to secure a new studio while rebuilding. This grant isn’t just money—it’s hope,Ortega emphasizes.
Industry insights reveal broader trends: Three out of four small businesses nationwide operate with insufficient insurance coverage, per Hiscox data. Post-disaster pivots—like shifting retail online or converting restaurants to food trucks—are becoming survival strategies. The Pasadena Women’s Business Center, which received $25,000 for advisory services, notes that 68% of local fire-impacted businesses lacked digital sales channels pre-crisis.
Hilton’s personal connection to wildfire recovery—her Malibu home burned in 2021—fuels her advocacy. The Wildfire Relief Fund, bolstered by her $150,000 donation, has raised $7.7 million from over 43,000 contributors. As Faquir’s family revives their shrimp-and-grits recipes and Ortega sources new floral tools, these grants underscore a truth: Resilient communities begin with empowered women.
