Transforming Today's World Magazine - JAN 2014 Special Edition Vol 5 Issue 3 | Page 16

hen you think of a star, an
image of a hero usually would
not be the first thought to come to
mind! But the beautiful Eva Longoria
is truly a hero to the special needs
community. Her tireless efforts to bring
awareness and much needed assistance to
our special needs community has culminated
in the creation of her Texas non-profit
organization: Eva’s Heroes. Our world is
chaotic and spare time is a premium few
people are fortunate enough to experience.
Many of us do not take the time to pause
from our daily routine to consider lending
a helping hand to someone in need. It is
difficult to determine who will be the hero/
heroes that will make a difference in this
world of ours. What constitutes a HERO?
Pick up any dictionary and you will find
there are several definitions, however, the
best suited definition for the word Heroes
in Eva’s Heroes is, “someone who is admired
for their achievements and noble qualities.”
A true hero is someone who places their
own needs and desires aside to rally round
to help and empower others; Eva’s Heroes
consists of individuals who suspend their
daily routines to provide a helping hand to
teens and young adults with special needs.
A special thank-you goes out from TTW to
Eva Longoria for taking the time, energy and
loving heart to do everything in her power to
help our special needs community.
Approximately 6.5 million people in
the United States have an intellectual
disability; that includes more than 545,000
school age children. One of the greatest
challenges for children across the spectrum
of intellectual special needs is developing

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the life skills necessary for integrating into
society. Active and ongoing community
participation is a key ingredient to helping
children reach their full potential, but the
cost and availability of accommodating
programs are obstacles for many families.
This is where Eva’s Heroes steps in. Based
in San Antonio, Texas, Eva’s Heroes is a
501(c) 3 non-profit organization which was
established in 2006 by actress Eva Longoria
and Board President Christiane PerkinsGarcia. The central focus of this organization
is to aid and empower special needs teens
and young adults between the ages of 14
and 21. Dedicated to enriching the lives of
those with intellectual special needs, Eva’s
Heroes helps integrate them into society by
providing an inclusive setting built on four
tenets: interact; grow; learn, and love. Eva’s
Heroes offers unique opportunities for these
young men and women which otherwise
they may not be able to experience.
This outreach is conducted
through three primary
programs: The After School
Program at the Northside
Independent School District’s
Nellie M. Reddix Center,
located at 4711 Sid Katz,
San Antonio, Texas. This first
program provides an inclusive
interactive environment for
all middle and high school
individuals with special
needs; this gives them the

opportunity to learn with their peers. It also
helps