Pasa la Voz expands to profitability with Pivot Fund support

Pasa la Voz, which started as a Savannah, GA-based Facebook group sharing hurricane safety tips in Spanish, used Pivot Fund support to grow into a profitable, self-sustaining news outlet serving Spanish-speaking communities along the Georgia and South Carolina coastal region

Pasa la Voz’s most significant revenue driver is a community events business that expanded into concert production. The business helps support journalism that has connected families with disaster resources, helped factory workers recover stolen wages, and helped the mainly immigrant residents of a mobile home park get connected to the municipal water supply. 

“Pasa la Voz is a pillar of support and a trusted source of information for Savannah’s Spanish-speaking community,” says CEO and founder Elizabeth Galaraza. “From natural disasters to community celebrations, we ensure our audience has access to vital resources, uplifting stories, and timely advocacy.”

Galarza, the daughter of migrant farmworkers, is a savvy businesswoman. She used Pivot’s initial $150,000 investment to launch a website and acquire the local Spanish-language outlet in Charleston, SC, expanding her online reach 5X to 862,000 monthly visitors. She also strengthened editorial operations, doubling Facebook followers to 15,000 from 28,000.

Pasa la Voz Noticias, as it is now known, had already demonstrated the value of community trust during the pandemic when state and local health officials bought advertising to reach Spanish-speaking community members. With Pivot funding, it dove into community events, securing $90,000 in marketing and sponsorship contracts in 2023.

In 2024, Pasa la Voz produced the El Grito festival, which was attended by the mayor of Savannah and generated $127,000 in revenue. Then Pasa la Voz moved into concert production, bringing in visiting artists in partnership with Enmarket Arena, a state-of-the-art, 9,500-seat venue in downtown Savannah.

Pasa la Voz projected it would generate more than $400,000 in revenue in 2025 between El Grito, the Day of the Dead, and Enmarket events. However, immigration raids have put a chill on public events in Latino communities.

2024 Editorial Highlights

• Investigating Wage Theft at the Hyundai Meta Plant: In early September, Pasa la Voz uncovered allegations of wage theft at the Hyundai Meta plant, where many Latino workers reported being owed weeks of pay. Within three days of our report’s publication, the workers were compensated, bringing relief to dozens of families.
• Tropical Storm Debby and Ogeechee River Flooding: When Tropical Storm Debby caused the Ogeechee River to flood, predominantly Latino neighborhoods were devastated, with entire communities submerged. Many residents felt their 911 calls were being ignored and turned to Pasa la Voz for help. We contacted Chatham County Commissioner Adot Whitely, who was unaware of the situation. Within hours, marine rescue teams arrived to help the community. Through live streams, we connected families to emergency resources, including hot meals, dry clothing, and other necessities. We also shared stories of Latino neighbors helping each other evacuate, highlighting the strength and resilience of our community. 

• Uplifting Latino Graduates: May’s graduation season was a time of celebration for Savannah’s immigrant community. Pasa la Voz attended every local graduation to take pictures of Latino graduates, many of whom are first-generation Americans. We shared their stories and dreams, uplifting and celebrating the accomplishments of young people whose families have overcome incredible obstacles to get to this moment. This effort highlighted the resilience and achievements of our community.
• Covering Georgia HB1105: Pasa la Voz traveled to Atlanta to cover protests against the controversial HB1105 immigration bill. We shared updates on immigrant rights and hosted community meetings with organizations like GLAHR to educate our audience on ICE raid protocols, legal protections, and available resources. 
• Raising Awareness for a Young Leukemia Patient: At the start of the year, we shared the story of a young undocumented Latino man battling leukemia. With no access to resources due to his immigration status, he and his family were desperate for help. Pasa la Voz’s report attracted attention and Univision picked up the story, driving significant fundraising efforts. By November, his family shared an update during our Day of the Dead festival: he is now receiving treatment in California thanks to the funds raised. 

These are just some of the highlights. A poll conducted at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church found that Pasa la Voz is the primary news source for Savannah’s Spanish-speaking residents. Every respondent named us as their go-to outlet for reliable and timely information, underscoring the importance of our work.