Eva Longoria has significantly increased her initial $50,000 donation for Los Angeles fire relief and recovery efforts to $1 million.
The 49-year-old actress and entrepreneur, who has evacuated her Southern California home, is channeling her contribution to the Latino Community Foundation and the California Community Foundation.
These organizations are committed to providing both immediate assistance and long-term support to the communities affected by the devastating weeklong wildfires that have swept through the region.
Tens of thousands of residents have been displaced since the wildfires ignited last Tuesday, leaving a devastating toll in their wake.
The fires have claimed 24 lives and scorched over 40,000 acres, marking one of the most severe incidents in recent history.
Eva Longoria’s $1 million donation, aimed at relief and recovery efforts, stems from the Courage and Civility Award she received from Jeff Bezos last March.
Jeff Bezos’ annual Courage and Civility Award, a $50 million monetary prize recognizing individuals making substantial contributions to society, allows recipients up to a decade to allocate the funds to charitable causes.
Eva Longoria has selected Los Angeles fire recovery efforts as the first beneficiary, according to The Hollywood Reporter. She will elaborate on her donation during her appearance as co-host alongside Jenna Bush Hager on Jenna & Friends this Tuesday.
Following her co-hosting duties, Longoria plans to return to Los Angeles to volunteer with Global Empowerment Mission and visit World Central Kitchen’s Eaton Fire operations.
The actress and entrepreneur, who is married to film producer José Bastón and is a mother of one, shared an emotional Instagram video detailing her experience. Longoria revealed she evacuated her home after receiving a warning while hosting friends who had already fled the fires.
“It’s been a crazy week. Devastating for so many people—so many friends who’ve lost a lot. It’s memories, things that people have worked really hard for,” she said tearfully. “Anyways, we decided to evacuate because we were under a warning, and then we kept getting an alarm,” she explained.
