Former AT&T spokeswoman Milana Vayntrub has successfully raised over $500,000 to assist victims of the wildfires that have ravaged parts of California. Vayntrub announced on social media that her initiative, called Only Philanthropy, has surpassed this significant milestone, with contributions coming from a series of fundraising efforts that combine creativity with philanthropy.
Vayntrub, who is 38 years old, launched her fundraising campaign as a response to the devastating fires that impacted Los Angeles earlier this year. On Instagram, she described her project as “the best thing I’ve ever been part of,” and credited her idea to the urgent need for financial support among those affected.
Creative Fundraising for Fire Victims
The actress, widely recognized for her role as “Lily” in AT&T commercials, offered exclusive, “tastefully risqué” photographs to donors, while explicitly ruling out nudity. Through this innovative approach, she aimed to engage potential supporters and encourage them to contribute to a GoFundMe set up by Bridget Bradley, a single mother who lost her home in the deadly Eaton wildfire in January. The initial fundraising effort raised an impressive $170,000 in just four days, providing crucial assistance to Bradley and her three children, including a son with cerebral palsy.
Vayntrub’s initiative, as stated on the Only Philanthropy website, aims to “trade exclusive content for real-world impact.” The funds raised during these campaigns have been directed to urgent causes, highlighting the effectiveness of combining philanthropy with engaging content.
The second phase of Vayntrub’s efforts took place during the summer, where she raised an additional $350,000 in a single week. This money was allocated to My Tribe Rise, an organization based in Altadena that aids elderly, disabled, and under-insured individuals in rebuilding their lives after the fires. The donations were distributed as direct grants to survivors, further amplifying the impact of her work.
Expanding Philanthropic Efforts
The success of Vayntrub’s campaigns has attracted approximately 3,500 donors, with an average contribution of $120. This remarkable achievement was accomplished with minimal effort from the creators involved, who spent less than ten hours on the projects. Encouraged by this initial success, Vayntrub is now considering exploring new avenues for Only Philanthropy to support various causes, including justice reform, homelessness, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate resilience.
Vayntrub expressed her enthusiasm for expanding this philanthropic venture, stating, “We’ve raised over half a million dollars together this year. Now let’s grow this into something bigger, stranger, more powerful, with more creators jumping in.”
The fundraising model for Only Philanthropy employs a tiered payment system, with each donation level offering increasingly flirty content. For instance, a donation of $1,000 grants supporters a chance to receive a signed Polaroid from Vayntrub’s photo shoot. To ensure privacy and protect the donors, digital photos are watermarked with their email addresses, allowing tracking in the event of any leaks.
Milana Vayntrub’s innovative approach to fundraising not only showcases her creativity but also highlights the power of community engagement in addressing urgent humanitarian needs. Through her efforts, she has sparked a conversation around philanthropy in the digital age, where support can be both fun and impactful.
