Thursday, August 28, 2025

Teen’s Fire Relief Nonprofit Expands to Permanent Location

[photo credit: Altadena Girls]

Organization founded after Eaton Fire has distributed over 1 million items to victims

A teenage entrepreneur who launched a nonprofit to help peers affected by the Eaton Fire announced she is opening a permanent location in Old Pasadena this fall.

Avery Colvert, who will turn 15 soon, started “Altadena Girls” in January following the devastating wildfire. A CBS News report said the organization has since distributed more than one million items to fire victims.

The new facility will feature a music and yoga studio, plus a “Sliving” lounge funded by media personality Paris Hilton, who has become a major supporter of the organization.

“I can’t believe an idea I had in January is turning into something this big,” Colvert told CBS News Los Angeles.

The nonprofit continues serving families still recovering from the fire. Melanie Bran, 15, recently visited to shop for school clothes after her family lost their home.

“When I came back to the house and I saw that it was in ashes, it honestly broke my heart,” Bran said in the interview.

Bran praised Colvert’s efforts to help other teenage girls in crisis.

“I’m very grateful for Avery because, honestly, it’s amazing how a young woman thinks about other young women in this type of way,” she said.

Despite returning to school, Colvert remains actively involved in the nonprofit’s operations. She emphasized that the community’s recovery is far from complete.

“We are not fully back yet, there’s still so much rebuilding and healing that has to happen,” Colvert said in the CBS report. “There’s still so much loss and people forget that because the news headlines go away.”

Colvert’s mission extends beyond Altadena fire victims. She aims to support teenage girls worldwide through her organization’s work.

“Not only for girls in Altadena but for girls all over the world, being a girl is something that you should love,” she said. “I want every other girl to feel that as well.”

The permanent space is currently under construction and scheduled to open in fall 2025.