While Eva Longoria is renowned as an actress, she is also a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. Her efforts to use her influence have left a positive impact on many, primarily those who were the direct beneficiaries of her various outreach programs.
The actress has been very vocal about certain issues throughout her life, and she has taken proactive steps to help whenever she can. Jeff Bezos, the former CEO of Amazon, recognized her efforts and even honored her for them recently.
Eva Longoria honored for her philanthropic work
Jeff Bezos launched the Bezos Courage and Civility Award in 2021, and Eva Longoria was one of the recipients this year, alongside Admiral Bill McRaven. The award recognizes the work being done to mitigate some of the world’s biggest concerns at present.
Both the actress and the admiral will each receive $50 million from the award. Moreover, they can freely donate to any charity of their choice.
Longoria started her organization, the Eva Longoria Foundation, in 2012. The main aim behind starting her foundation was to “help Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship,” she said (via ELLE).
Longoria focuses on helping women, as she believes that helping women is the stepping stone to a better future. Her foundation facilitates it by arming women with the skills and knowledge necessary to enable that change.
Admiral McRaven, on the other hand, played an important role in the operation that saw Osama bin Laden get shot and killed by the US Navy SEALs of SEAL Team Six. He supports the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which helps veterans and families of soldiers who died during service.
Both Longoria and McRaven are associated with charities that do humanitarian work. For the Desperate Housewives star, there is another cause that is close to her heart.
Eva Longoria opens up about her personal life
Long before she established her foundation, the actress founded Eva’s Heroes. She has championed several causes throughout her life, but this one is dear to her.
It now exists as a branch under her foundation, but Longoria founded Eva’s Heroes in 2006. She created it in honor of her sister, who has a mental disability. This charity serves to help those with special needs, and over the years, it has expanded and helped numerous families.
“My sister is still a part of it. And I called it Eva’s Heroes, because my sister is my hero. The root of all my philanthropy comes from my sister and her true sense of seeing the world with a positive, beautiful lens. She sees the good in everything,” said Longoria (via ELLE).
Eva Longoria has positively affected many lives with her foundation and philanthropic work. The award is a recognition of her efforts and an encouragement for the future.
