Eva Longoria, Inspired By Disabled Sister, Helps Children With Special Needs

Each night this week, NBC Nightly News is highlighting the work of a celebrity and how they are making a difference. The series puts the spotlight on musicians, actors and comedians -- including Sally Field, Ben Affleck, Eva Longoria, Usher and Will Ferrell -- and the charities close to their hearts.

In the second segment, Eva Longoria shares her experiences growing up with a disabled older sister. Inspired by her sister's struggles, Longoria started Eva's Heroes, an after-school program for special needs kids in San Antonio.

WATCH:

Comments

[momstudent]

03:10 PM on 05/23/2010

A wonderful story about siblings being active in the disability community.

[LMPE]

10:33 PM on 05/21/2010

I wonder if there are any celebrities who deliberately take anti-charity positions (basically, any position that Rush Limbaugh would take). I'm not saying that it would be a good thing, I'm just asking.

[Progressneeded]

11:58 AM on 05/23/2010

That is the thing about people like Rush. They say that the government has no business collecting taxes to help the disadvantaged because that is the domain of charity, then they refrain from having a charitable bone in their body. In essence, they believe in a dog eat dog world.

[Conk]

10:33 AM on 05/21/2010

Wow, I like her even more now!

[GraniteSkyline]

08:39 AM on 05/21/2010

Eva's entire family is remarkable. After Lisa was diagnosed with disabilities their mom enrolled in college and became a special education teacher in order to better understand and help Lisa. Really a wonderful, loving, caring family!

[kuhler]

07:38 AM on 05/21/2010

Another reason to love this beautiful, talented lady.

[Jase84]

12:15 AM on 05/21/2010

I take care of my brother who is blind and mildly mentally impaired. I'm always surprised when people are shocked that I do that. He inspires me, it was never a hard thing to do. We have a lot to learn from those that are disabled! I love seeing others as inspired by their disabled siblings as I am :)

[guendy]

12:20 AM on 05/21/2010

People like you are what we need more of in this world.

[ProgressforAmerica]

12:26 AM on 05/21/2010

Thanks :)

[Lachlan Prescott]

08:10 AM on 05/21/2010

Ditto

[SiberianRat]

06:21 AM on 05/21/2010

Nice! :-)

[leanjhuls2]

08:33 PM on 05/20/2010

I cannot believe it. HP didn't even bother to mention Eva's sister on this post. The sister who will forever be known as "Eva's disabled sister."

Could we at least mention her name once, please.

[Jill Scheibler]

10:37 PM on 05/20/2010

thanks so much for pointing that out. this sort of thing drives my nuts!

[emmeaki]

11:26 PM on 05/20/2010

And in what way is she disabled? A little more info, please.

[prostock69]

06:45 AM on 05/21/2010

Her name is Elizabeth and she has Down Syndrome, as does my 8 year old daughter. :)

[KinkyGirl]

07:16 PM on 05/20/2010

Long before I knew about this, I thought Eva Longoria was not just another TV celebrity but a nice genuine person. Now, I like her even more.

[Sing Out and Slap Iron]

06:39 PM on 05/20/2010

Beautiful inside and out!

[Dnietz]

08:31 PM on 05/20/2010

I'm one of those people that never remembers his dreams (sleep dreams), but I have had a hunch for a long time that she is a regular in that theater of my mind.

LOL

[cloudmaker]

06:21 PM on 05/20/2010

It's great when you learn that someone gorgeous and successful is also a really good, caring person.

[ragtag]

06:09 PM on 05/20/2010

I've heard of "letter" jacket, but not a "letterman" jacket...Dave would be impressed.

[jozie]

07:51 PM on 05/20/2010

Letterman jacket is what they called them back when I was a kid.

[MIMom]

11:37 PM on 05/20/2010

Girls don't get letters?

[julieintx]

04:57 PM on 05/20/2010

The San Antonio park mentioned in the video is the first park in the US and probably the world for special needs kids. It was started by a homebuilder who has a daughter with a mental disability.

[Rita Schott]

06:02 PM on 05/20/2010

There's a new park like this in Colorado Springs, opening this week near Memorial Hospital, I think...

[guajiro]

07:06 PM on 05/20/2010

http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/06/park-for-special-needs-children-to-open-in-san-antonio/?ref=todayspaper

[letthemdrinkkoolaid]

04:40 PM on 05/20/2010

Good for you, Eva!

[linmin]

05:10 PM on 05/20/2010

This is what Sarah Palin should be doing instead of being a shrill for the right wing. She has a special needs child, and her popularity could be used to bring more recognition and possibly funding to special education which has experienced severe budgetary cuts. I haven't seen or read about her doing any fundraisers or donating a portion of her salary for special education. All I hear is her spreading venomous mistruths and schleping out the red meat for her carnivorous followers.

[tbsa]

05:33 PM on 05/20/2010

You assume fact not in evidence that plain would actually give a hoot for someone other than money.

[CaptainSunshine]

04:22 PM on 05/20/2010

Awesome!!

[okjoel]

04:16 PM on 05/20/2010

Eva's the real deal.