Last month, 14-year-old Avery Colvert witnessed the destruction of numerous buildings, including her school, in her hometown of Altadena, California.
According to 21-year-old actress and producer , who presented Colvert with the 2025 TIME100 Women of the Year Impact Award on Tuesday in Los Angeles, “While many were overwhelmed by the devastation, Avery took initiative.”
Reid explained that Altadena Girls, a recovery fund for teenage victims of the Eaton Fire, originated from a group chat between Colvert and her friends. The Altadena Girls Instagram account gained widespread attention, attracting support from prominent brands like Skims and Orebella, as well as celebrities such as Mindy Kaling and Charli XCX. Colvert gathered donations of clothing, beauty products, and personal care items, which she distributed without charge at a temporary location. Soon, it will have a permanent location in Old Town Pasadena, offering mental health support, study areas, dance classes, and a community space for young women.
Colvert is the youngest individual to be recognized by the , which celebrates leaders from diverse fields and regions who are making a difference in their industries, communities, and the world. Reid stated, “Avery, your leadership demonstrates that you can have an impact at any age.”
Upon accepting the award, Colvert shared, “Altadena Girls began as a spontaneous idea just 46 short days ago, as my neighborhood school and friends’ homes were being consumed by fire.” (Her family home was unharmed.)
She continued, “The transformation from feeling afraid, depressed, and hopeless to feeling empowered, supported, and optimistic about the future in such a brief period showcases the remarkable power of kindness and community.”
The Women of the Year Gala was sponsored by P&G, Rolex, Amazon, Booking.com, Chase, Deloitte, the American Heart Association, and Toyota.