Eva Longoria and friends walked the red carpet Saturday night in San Antonio to celebrate 20 years of Eva's Heroes, the nonprofit the Hollywood actress co-founded to support individuals with intellectual special needs. The milestone was marked with a Celebrity Casino Night fundraiser featuring casino-style gaming, auctions and a live performance by The Hero Heartbeats.
Eva's Heroes was created two decades ago by Longoria and Executive Director Christiane Perkins-Garcia, according to FOX San Antonio. The nonprofit is dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals with intellectual special needs ages 14 and older, per Eva's Heroes. Longoria and friends gathered in San Antonio to celebrate 20 years dedicated to supporting individuals with special needs.
The Celebrity Casino Night took place Saturday at 834 E Hildebrand Ave in San Antonio, with festivities beginning at 6 p.m., according to a listing from the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The evening included casino-style gaming, live and silent auctions, and a special performance by The Hero Heartbeats, the same listing notes. The nonprofit's own event page describes the night as featuring exceptional auction items, a special performance by Eva's Heroes participants, exquisite food and exciting casino games.
Two Decades of Growth From After-School Roots
What began as a simple after-school program, according to Fiesta San Antonio, has since expanded to include additional programs and activities. The organization's mission has expanded to include Fiesta events and summer activities that enrich lives, FOX San Antonio reports. Eva's Heroes now provides more than 2,300 experiences for participants throughout the year, according to the nonprofit.
That growth shows up across multiple programs. The group's Summer Enrichment Program alone serves 80 participants and offers 1,100 camp experiences, per Eva's Heroes. The organization also hosts four annual dances each year, per Fiesta San Antonio, and offers a Virtual Interactive Program on a monthly basis, according to the nonprofit's own description of its services.
Honoring the Families Behind the Mission
Christiane Perkins-Garcia, who co-founded the organization and now serves as its executive director, has helped steer that expansion alongside Longoria. Over the last two decades, Eva's Heroes has served thousands of families, according to News 4 San Antonio. Organizers framed Saturday's event as a chance to honor the many supporters and, especially, the heart of Eva's Heroes: the participants themselves, per the nonprofit's event page.
Longoria, known widely as a Hollywood actress, attended the anniversary celebration with friends, as News 4 San Antonio reported. The night added another chapter to a program that started small and offers programs for people age 14 and older.
