…On Overcoming Obstacles
Inspiring words from Eva Longoria in the new issue of Parade magazine.
The Desperate Housewives star opens up about her older sister, Liza, and how she's been influenced and inspired by her.
"Liza is mentally challenged,” Eva reveals. “She was my hero growing up. It was a blessing to watch her overcome every obstacle—tying her shoes, putting on a shirt, getting out the front door. And yet she still had a job and would come home on the bus by herself and help with dinner. You could only imagine the hurdles she encountered every minute of the day.”
Eva’s mother, Ella, became a special-education teacher to help Liza and others coping with disabilities.
“Liza was a role model to get me ready for life in Hollywood,” Longoria adds. “You don’t take health for granted. You don’t take life for granted. It seems so insignificant to go, ‘Darn it, I didn’t get that movie role,’ or, ‘Darn it, so-and-so is wearing the same dress as me to the Emmys.’ I didn’t know there was another way. I thought everyone should be sensitive and somewhat unselfish."
“My family is extremely optimistic,” she continues. “I’m really blessed. It’s just in my nature to be cheerful. I don’t try to be that way, but I’ve learned there’s no better medicine than laughing.”
Eva credits her whole work ethic to her mother. “She raised us [Longoria and her three sisters] on a teacher’s salary with my dad working all the time. I don’t know how she did it. That’s why I never feel like I’m doing enough. I have to constantly do more and more, because it’s nothing compared to what my mother did.”
Her childhood experiences have driven her to charitable involvements, including Padres Contra El Cáncer (Parents Against Cancer) and the Entertainment Industry Foundation/Callaway Golf Foundation, where she tries to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. “I’m a woman, I’m a daughter, and I have a sister with a mental disability,” she says. “So a lot of causes are very relevant to me.” Her sister Liza is the inspiration for the actress’s own San Antonio-based Eva’s Heroes. “We help intellectually disabled children grow and play,” she explains. “We set up after-school programs, and we’ve put on golf tournaments to raise money where I prove that I’m a terrible golfer. But I can drive a mean golf cart and wear the cute outfits.”
Eva is passionate about the need for people like U to get involved too. “You can never think, ‘I’m not rich. I’m not famous. What could I possibly do?’ ” she says. “What makes the world go ’round is everyday people.”
Amen! Amen!
- CLICK HERE for more information on Eva's Heroes
- CLICK HERE for more information on Padres Contra El Cáncer
and
- CLICK HERE for more information on the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
[Image via WENN.]
The New & Improved Rosie O'Donnell
Still Not In Rehab
first!!! =) hehe
1st?
What a lovely, uplifting story…I just brought up my lunch is was so moving. At least Eva knows how to stay in the news…
boo-ya
What a lovely, uplifting story…I just brought up my lunch it was so moving. At least Eva knows how to stay in the news…
Good for her. What an amazing woman. I always liked her and at least she's doing something with her fame besides running around without underwear, getting drunk, going to rehab and making an ass out of herself.
Kudos to Eva!
first?
1st?!
Awwww thats sooo touching, that, In its self, Is sooo inspiring!
As a mother with 2 special needs children this story gives me hope of my kids having a normal life, hopefully in HOLLYWOOD (ha ha ha)
We've all got stories. Even Eva "I'm too pretty to get cast" Longoria.
That is a lovely story, but this is the same girl who told her grandmother that her husband "was French…" when the grandmother asked if he "was black" she even said that she didn't tell her grandmother Tony Parker was black, tried to justify it. That had been the only thing I thought of whenever I saw her, because there is zero excuse. So, she has a family that is sensitive to medical problems, but not to racism. Well, baby steps toward tolerance, I suppose.
wow. such an inspiration. i always knew there was something special about her, now i know! it's awesome to have strong, humble women as role models for the next generation.
Nice Tits!
A beautiful and talented woman and actress with a beautiful soul to go along with it. She really is a package. I LOVE YOU EVA!!
Regina is impressed!
My two daughters are sluts.or at least the one with huge jugs.
I like this lil mexcan.
I'd eat her Taco anyday anyweek.
Butthole too!!!
WHO CARES ABOUT THIS DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE?????
yea eva! what a cool chic.
you know whats touching? when celebrities give back. whats even more touching? when they donth ave to broadcast it to the entire planet.
wow, good for her. her story makes my heart smile.
Weren't YOU just making fun of the mentally challenged?! If anything, Eva thinks you're a hemmrhoidal asshole, Perez.
Oh, puke! Newsflash: wearing the same dress at the emmys; not getting whatever stupid part; those things ARE insignificant. Anyone that finds her "inspirational" is truly without hope.
bless her
Who knew, me as a mom to a special needs child feel her….
newminutenews.com says: interesting article, pity her fake tan is as true! ..nah just jokin!
yes
I freaking love EVA LONGORIA! wonderful woman
Re: Misty Dawn –
Perez readers tend to have short memories, I guess. I was about to call him out for the same thing. He spends a week mocking poor Tina, and then has the audacity to post something like this as if he was mother Theresa. The same thing goes for kicking Britney while she's down and then posting some garbage about "Oh please we sincerely hope she gets help!" Perez is just hypocrite. And as a human being, he is absolute garbage.
Hey Perez sounds like you have another retard to make fun of you big pussy fart
Perez - I know she is a latina, but please! She continues to find ways to get in the 'news'. Two weeks ago it was playing with a baby dressed as a lion at a Spurs' game in San Antonio and then declaring she 'didn't want kids'. I think her true persona of a self-centered b***h keeps coming to the surface, so she has to do things to make her look like she is a 'good person'.
This is what is known around Halloween as a "Whore Story." AHHHAaahhahahahahhaaaa!
Re: Shay – I bet her coochie is wider than the Superdome and she's 69'd half the players there! She didn't earn the title
EVA DONG-WHORE-RIA baking brownies, honey. AHAHAHHAAAHAHAHHAAAAAA!
Amen, Perez! AMEN!
p.s. just curious, do you think you make this world a better place? seriously…do you feel you contribute anything at all to humanity?
The only bitch who's ridden a bigger weiner than Ever-Horny Longoria is the one who drives the Oscar Mayer Hotdogmobile.
EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!EVA LOOKS LIKE A RAT WITH BUCK TEETH!!!!!!
SHE'S THE QUEEN OF ALL SKANKS. A CUSTOMER FAVORITE.
(See photo above.)
very inspiring strong woman..what the world needs more of
This super-slut has a "Special Needs" va-jay-jay! Anything under 10 inches and she can't feel it.
that's good for her.i had no idea about that,but it seems Eva is a very strong and kind hearted woman and SO DOWN TO EARTH UNLIKE THE MOST CELEBRITIES.people like her should be the role models for our society.
How do you have the courage to put this on this stupid blog?!
You are the meanest and most selfish "human beaing" in the whole planet! You're not even a human being… because humans have feelings and don't go around hurting people just to reach their own goals!
Eva made a beautiful speech… and you just can't use it because… I mean… you're and asshole!!
I think it's great she has risen above her station in life–hotel maid. Even if she got there using her snatch, like Jessica "I'm not Latina" Alba.
Leona's ghost must be really old. i had to google her name when she died. lol
NOT ME-WHO THE FUCK ASKED YOU TO CARE?
Re: hey Granny – Well, bless your heart, sugar! That was so funny I shit myself and had to change my Depends.
She is horrible. Jilted a fiance at the alter so she could pursue her soap opera career. She was poor living at the guy's parents house then scram. She is all about the $$$ and publicity. This is just some good publicity this little money grubber does not need.
Eva is a horny little slut.
I LOVE THIS GIRL.
Wow, what an amazing story. This site is fun but it's gone down a lot with the never ending negativity.
Keep the good stories afloat please.
Oh, and Britney should die soon!
Thanks Perez for posting this! Eva is a lovely person. Its nice to know that she gives back to the community/other and does something positive with her celebrity status.
Ok, I'm sorry but I think she is a total fake. Seriously.
Aww….I heart her even more. You go seksi!!!
Eva is so gorgeous! Thats how a real Latina looks and Acts!
I find her annoying
who the fuck cares! CUNT MUFFIN!
This makes me love her even more.
I'm so sick of this 'on a teacher's salary' crap. Most teachers make more than $30,000 a year for only working 190 days in that year. If you total that out to a full year they would be pulling in $50k or so.
hypocrite. thats all i have to say.
Re: rrrrrrrrrrrrr! – You got that right! She acts like a whore and looks plastic.
wow this story made me smile Perez.with tears in my eyes:)
its nice of you to focus on things like this,now if you only could stop making fun of kids…:)
Well, that's nice coming from somone who spent millions of dollars on a freaking wedding. The "EVERYDAY PEOPLE" She's an actress, not even a well respected one..who on Earth does she think she is?
Isn't this the same website that refer to people as "celebretard"? If you're so sensitive about the plight of mentally challenged individuals, you wouldn't use that term. I happen to work with individuals who are mentally-challenged & the term "retard" carries the same weight as "fag" & the N-word. You are such a hypocrite!!!
If you look up her mother's name on the official Texas website for teacher's certificates, Eva's mother is listed as having an instructional aide certificate - not a teacher's certificate. What is up with that???? If her mother had gone back to college to earn a teaching degree, it would have to be legally displayed on that website for anyone to view. I am disappointed. Her mother may be dedicated and a wonderful instructional aide, but it takes away from the accomplishments of those who earned that right (not to mention the liability of being a special ed teacher). Is Eva that ignorant to use words loosely or ashamed of calling her mother an aide?
Re: scar2 –
Get OVER it.
and who cares about her sister or whoever. If she wants to raise money, I suggests she throws some of her millions on the floor then picks it up.
Donates that to the charity, instead of asking regular non-rich people to give money
Re: michelle –
lol HUH? I seem to have made a lot of words plural for some reason.
Ignore the extra 5 S's in my post, I don't know how that happened lol.
Damn my shoddy editing!
bit hypocritical, don't you think, perez? applauding eva longoria for admiring her mentally disabled sister when you've recently taken the plunge and made fun of people like her?
…
She's an average actress and a fake person.
P–I don't understand why you didn't write WHOREFACE on her picture, such a golden opportunity and you missed it! WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUTTY WHORE SLUTTY WHORE SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUTTY WHORE WHORE SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT WHORE SLUT WHORE SLUT SLUT WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE SLUT SLUT SLUT WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT SLUT WHORE WHORE WHORE SLUT SLUT SLUT WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE WHORE
She seems like a geniune person, and I think you would be a pleasant person to work for as well. JLo should take notes.
Never before have I studied a young lady with such a severe case of nymphomania. I have prescribed a special douche for her, available only at my clinic high in the Swiss Alps. She must come at once–oh my, I mean VISIT my clinic at once.
Okay, I was wrong. Eva is wonderful.
eva is so great
i never knew this about her/her sister
thank you for printing the story
its nice to know there are really great people in hollywood
C:
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah… what about the part where she told Tony Parker how he BETTER get her a HUGE diamond ring after she saw the one Michael Bolton gave to Nicollette! Puhleaze…..
Re: me – I know that Tony Parker's parents, his father especially, who's a physician, were none too happy their wonderful son was marrying the whore dog.
I am so SICK of looking at this dumb cunt's clown face. When is she going to shrivle up and blow the fuck away?
What a wonderful story. I've always viewed Eva as a caring soul.
I however, have never viewed Perez as a caring soul. Considering he has made fun of Tina over the past week, it's pathetic that he's acting like a "caring journalist" reporting this story. Remember, Perez made a video mocking the plight of special needs people everywhere just this past week. Perez should be ASHAMED of himself for making fun at people with disabilities!
Even though this is very nice of her, I'm tired of this lady.
She's so overexposed it makes me sick!
I've never heard one positive thing about this woman. SPIN is all this is. I heard she is nothing short of a bitch to work with. Humble my butt.
And Perez…you have this glorified notion that just because a woman is Latina it makes her perfect. Get over yourself.
Re: Michelle –
Unless you've worked as a teacher, you don't know what you're talking about. Working those 190+ days a year is a hell of a lot harder than any other job I've ever done.
Also, $30,000 is fine for one person, but to support a family?
Seriously.
oh dear cammie#80 - clearly u don't know any latinas
this is actually funny…and desperate…so desperate about the huge mistake you made over tina you're desperate to do your own PR….you just cut and paste special needs articles, obviously in a hurry… you don't even spell-check)….some marks for the futility of trying….
she's lovely…and I covet her eyelashes!!
If she's so grateful and learned so much from her sister, why does she smoke cigarettes? HMMM?
She is a cool girl, very classy keep it up.
She is a cool girl, very classy keep it up.
She is a cool girl, very classy keep it up.
So Perez,
Are you a fan of special needs individuals now? Do you feel bad for making fun of Tina all last week? You should be ashamed of yourself. I truly think you are a sick person who needs help!
Eva should be praised for being proud of her sister and not keeping her hidden. Eva, although a complete media whore, does still strike me as someone who is genuine and kind. I hope her foundation is a success.
As for Perez, I hope his website is forced to be taken down. He deserves to be imprisoned for the lies he has shelled out over the years.
I live in West Hollywood, and have witnessed first-hand the grossness that is Perez Hilton. HE HAS NO FRIENDS and people hate him. I've had waiter friends spit in his food. One friend of mine even put feces in his food!
=)
WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND
Her sister's mental disability prepared her for Hollywood? How shallow can you get?
Aren't all Mexicans retarded? The ones at my school are.
Overcoming Obstacles??
What like stairs and reaching for things on the top shelf?…short ass bitch.
U go giRl!!!
^_^
U can eva take anything for granted!
I love it when celebrities or really rich people help others that way!
Good for them!
*_*
The best Perez can do is to quote Parade "magazine". What a douche bag!
Typical dumb wetback who got rich overnight now she thinks she is a philosopher.
THERE IS A WETBACK WOMAN IN MY COMMUNITY WHO HAS TWENTY CHILDREN AND ALL OF THEM ARE MENTALLY RETARDED.
Re: Michelle –
Thank you for pointing that out!! My fiance is a lawyer for the state and makes jack shit ($40,000) for working until 9-10pm every fucking night! The paralegals and janitor make more than he does. Fuck whiny teachers who can't get a real job and complain about a low salary when their quitting time is 3pm and they get 3 months off every year. DAMMIT!!
Oh please…. o.k., I'm sure now that Eva's an adult, she realized the challenges and the hell her sister's life was/is…. but I'm sure when she was a kid she was embarassed of her and when she was pissed at her, I'm sure she called her words like retard…… don't lie eva!!!
Re: Charlie – I couldn't agree with you more Charlie! Well said.
Barf
Wow, I'm suddenly impressed by Eva Longoria in a way I never expected to be. If I had ever thought about it, I would have assumed that of course she was shallow.
That just made me like/respect her a whole lot more. She has the right outlook.
NOT intellectually disabled children.
the term, "children with an intellectual disability" would be more appreciated.
you see, people come first.