The 7th Annual Gala, Announces Opening of Teen Tech Center in El Paso, Texas in Partnership with Best Buy
Gina Rodriguez, Eva Longoria, Credit: Faye Sadou/MediaPunch
Los Angeles, CA — This past week Hollywood sparkled when Latinx elite gathered at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills in Los Angeles to support the Eva Longoria Foundation‘s (ELF) work to empower Latinas through education and entrepreneurship as well as to celebrate the Foundation’s 2018 honorees, Zoe Saldaña and Gina Rodriguez.
The evening’s emcee Mario Lopez welcomed attendees, highlighting ELF’s effective work to help Latinas close the opportunity gap in education and employment. Mario then introduced ELF founder Eva Longoria Bastón, who spoke about the Foundation’s important and culturally-relevant programs that reach girls facing education inequality, economic barriers, and prejudice.
Rosario Dawson presented Rodriguez with the Foundation’s first-ever “Latina Leadership Award,” for Gina’s work to inspire the next generation of Latina leaders through her activism and advocacy.
Eva welcomed Corie Barry, CFO and Strategic Transformation Officer for Best Buy Co. to announce that ELF and Best Buy will partner to open a new ‘Teen Tech Center’ in El Paso, Texas in late 2019. The center will give youth access to technology, mentorship, and exposure to careers in tech.
Zoe Saldana was awarded the Credit: Faye Sadou/MediaPunch
Eva presented Saldaña with the Foundation’s first-ever “Latina Visibility Award,” highlighting Zoe’s work to represent and amplify the diverse and meaningful stories of the Latinx community.
It was a who is who of Hollywood’s most powerful Latinos. Actors, producera, executives and young women in STEM gathered at the gala. Included were dinner included: Eva Longoria Bastón, Zoe Saldaña (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy), Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), Rosario Dawson (Jane the Virgin), Olivia Munn, Terry Crews (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and Rebecca Crews (Singer), Miguel (Singer), Karla Souza (How to Get Away with Murder), Roselyn Sanchez (Grand Hotel), Mario Lopez, Bryan Craig (Grand Hotel), Guillermo Diaz (Scandal), Carla Jimenez (The Mick), Chris Warren (Grand Hotel), Amaury Nolasco (Telenovela), Andrea Navedo (Jane the Virgin), Gloria Calderon Kellet (One Day at a Time), Denyse Tontz (Grand Hotel), Edy Ganem (Devious Maids), Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time), Eduardo Verastegui (Little Boy), Katherine Castro (MAMBA), Lisa Vidal (Being Mary Jane), Maria Canals-Barrera (Cristela), Shalim Ortiz (Grand Hotel), Jose Moreno Brooks (Telenovela), Thomas Barbusca (The Mick), Lincoln Younes (Grand Hotel), and Alex Meneses (Telenovela), Jaime Camil (Jane the Virgin).
MC Mario Lopez, at the Eva Longoria Foundation Dinner Credit: Faye Sadou/MediaPunch
In the last six years since ELF was established the foundation has invested more than three million dollars and reached more than 23,000 women and girls through programs designed to help Latinas succeed in the areas math and science education for middle school Latinas, to college scholarships for first-generation students, to microloans for Latina small business owners. By providing Latinas with the resources to succeed in school and business, the Foundation works to improve their lives, empower their communities and shape the national conversation about leveling the playing field for minority girls and women.
Longoria Bastón is a Golden Globe-nominated, Screen Actors Guild and ALMA Award-winning actress, producer, director, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Desperate Housewives alum. A longtime champion of women, the Latino community and youth with special needs, she is the founder of The Eva Longoria Foundation; co-founder of Eva’s Heroes; and National Spokesperson for Padres Contra el Cancer. In the wake of the #MeToo Movement, Longoria joined forces with Hollywood women to say that time was up, co-founding the #TimesUp Campaign which has since swept industries around the world. She is a Global Brand Ambassador for L’Oréal Paris.
For more information on the Longoria Foundation online at www.EvaLongoriaFoundation.org.
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