Actress and former AT&T spokeswoman Milana Vayntrub has raised $500,000 to help victims of the Los Angeles wildfires through a creative fundraising campaign on Only Philanthropy.
The 38-year-old initially raised $170,000 for a single mother, Bridget, who used the funds to buy essential medical equipment for herself and her child with special needs. “It was the first time in a long time I felt seen. Like someone actually cared that we were still here, still fighting,” Bridget told Vayntrub.
Encouraged by the impact, Vayntrub expanded her effort, generating over $350,000 in a week to support My Tribe Rise, an Altadena-based organization assisting wildfire survivors.
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Explaining her approach on Instagram in July, Vayntrub wrote, “This is how it works: You give. I give (a few flirty pics). We help people who really need it. Let’s trade some playful, exclusive content for real-world impact.”
She described the campaign as profoundly rewarding: “This is the best thing I’ve ever been a part of. Thank you. Truly.” Only Philanthropy’s platform highlights the initiative’s mission: “Using the male gaze to fight the blaze,” with over $500,000 raised through its first two campaigns.