Eva Longoria is putting a $50 million award from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos toward causes she supported long before receiving it. The actress says the funding has helped her invest in Latina entrepreneurs, educational opportunities and organizations serving communities with limited resources.
Longoria, 51, discussed that work with Fortune in an interview originally published in April and republished October 31. The Desperate Housewives star described the award as a responsibility that encouraged her to think carefully about where her time and money could make a difference.
One emergency changed those priorities. During the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025, Longoria and her foundation pledged $1 million from the award to help affected communities, including people whose livelihoods had been disrupted.
She also challenged the idea that philanthropy belongs only to the wealthy. “Impact doesn’t come from how much money you have, it comes from how you show up,” she told Fortune, pointing to the value of mentoring someone or sharing professional knowledge.
The Award Gave Longoria Money to Direct to Charities of Her Choice
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Longoria received the Bezos Courage and Civility Award at a March 2024 ceremony in Washington, D.C. Retired Navy admiral William McRaven was honored alongside her with an equal award, bringing the pair’s combined charitable funding to $100 million.
The award organizers gave each recipient discretion to select the charities they wanted to support. Previous recipients included Van Jones, José Andrés and Dolly Parton, who received the honor after its introduction in 2021.
For Longoria, the opportunity built on work through the Eva Longoria Foundation, which she established in 2012. Its activities have included scholarships, mentorship and programs helping women develop businesses and pursue careers.
Speaking to ELLE when she received the award, Longoria said her priority was “expanding and scaling our services and programs.” She wanted to strengthen existing efforts, with the expectation that helping women would also benefit their families and communities.
The Los Angeles Fires Prompted an Emergency Relief Pledge
The foundation announced its wildfire commitment January 13, naming the Latino Community Foundation’s Wildfire Relief Fund and the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund as recipients. Both work with local organizations positioned to respond to immediate needs and help residents through recovery.
Longoria discussed the decision on TODAY with Jenna & Friends the following day. “I’m in a very privileged position to help,” she said.
Longoria had also personally promised to match up to $50,000 in donations to This Is About Humanity. That separate effort supported frontline workers, farmworkers, day laborers and families affected by the fires.
According to PEOPLE, she returned to Los Angeles January 15 to assist in person. She packed relief supplies and protective equipment with Global Empowerment Mission for the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, then distributed World Central Kitchen meals to victims, first responders and volunteers.
She Teamed Up With José Andrés to Support Food Entrepreneurs
The award also supports the Flourish Collective, a business-development program announced by the Latino Economic Development Center in December 2025. The project brings together support from Longoria’s foundation and Andrés’ Longer Tables Fund to help food entrepreneurs in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia region.
The initiative was designed to serve five groups of participants over two years, with a target of approximately 100 to 150 entrepreneurs. It places particular emphasis on Latinas and women whose businesses face obstacles to obtaining financing, training and professional guidance.
Participants are offered financial education, business training, mentorship and access to affordable capital. The program combines the center’s Wealth & Wellness curriculum with its Food Ventures incubator and accelerator, supporting entrepreneurs as they develop and expand food businesses.
Longoria described the connection between a person’s cooking and a community’s economic opportunities when the partnership was announced. With investment, she said, “their recipes become businesses, their kitchens create jobs, and their dreams lift communities.”
Her Sister Inspired a Different Part of Her Charitable Work
Longoria’s involvement in disability programs grew from her relationship with her older sister, Elizabeth, who has an intellectual disability. She co-founded Eva’s Heroes in 2006, years before establishing the foundation that bears her full name.
When discussing the Bezos award with ELLE, Longoria said she also intended to continue supporting that organization. She recalled its beginnings as a place where people could socialize, learn and remain involved in their communities, and credited her sister’s positive outlook as an influence on her philanthropy.
Based in San Antonio, Eva’s Heroes provides recreational and social activities for people with intellectual disabilities aged 14 and older. Participants do not age out, allowing them to remain involved well into adulthood. Its offerings include community outings, family activities, summer enrichment and virtual programs.
Longoria Is Also Mentoring Business Owners Through a Lenovo Partnership
Beyond the award-funded work, Longoria has joined a separate corporate initiative focused on helping entrepreneurs learn from one another. Lenovo introduced its Backing Every Business program in March 2026, naming her as an ambassador and mentor.
Its Twinning program pairs business owners facing similar challenges across different industries and countries. The idea is to give entrepreneurs someone with whom they can discuss decisions, compare experiences and work through problems that might otherwise feel isolating.
Longoria agreed to mentor selected founders herself. Lenovo’s announced package for selected participants included a $10,000 grant, technology and one-to-one guidance, along with a business peer in the Twinning network. At launch, applications were invited from eligible owners in Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.