There are many celebrities that hail from Texas and the Hill Country area. They have diverse backgrounds in music, art, television, film, comedy, and sports. The Lone Star State is well-known for its legendary native born musicians such as George Strait, the great Stevie Ray Vaughan, Willie Nelson and legendary actresses such as Carol Burnett and Debbie Reynolds. But did you know a few of our well-known actors give back to the community through foundations they have set up for some great causes? Here are three Texas celebrities who make us Texas proud!
Local News
3 Texas Celebrities Making a Difference
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1. Matthew McConaughey
Photo: Facebook/j.k. livin foundation
Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993. He has appeared in numerous commercials and film roles throughout his career with his first big break in the 1993 film “Dazed and Confused” and won an Academy Award for his performance in 2013’s “Dallas Buyers Club.”
With such notoriety and success, he still manages to keep his roots planted in Texas as he maintains a home in Austin with his wife and children. Even more amazing is how he is giving back through a foundation he set up in honor of his father called the “just keep livin foundation.”
Struggling with the passing of his father the phrase “just keep livin” kept being at the forefront. “The just keep livin foundation is based on the idea that part of living is about giving back. In addition to creating things you love with the people you love, Matthew firmly believes in helping others and in being a good neighbor,” shares its website. The foundation works with schools across the nation to reach the most children with the greatest need and implement fitness and wellness programs in large inner-city high schools in our community, according to its Facebook page.
2. Eva Longoria Bastón
Photo: Facebook/Eva Longoria Foundation
Eva Longoria was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. She is an American actress, producer, director, activist, businesswoman, and active philanthropist. She has numerous film and TV credits to her name and has produced the National Council of La Raza’s ALMA Awards.
Among her many talents, she has also founded the Eva Longoria Foundation. Its mission is to help Latinas build better futures for themselves and their families through education and entrepreneurship according to its website. “The growing Latina population is an untapped resource in this country. If we give Latinas the tools to unlock their potential, we will see amazing results,” shares Longoria.
She also co-founded Eva’s Heroes, “a San Antonio nonprofit that benefits developmentally disabled children, and serves as a spokesperson for Padres Contra el Cancer, an organization supporting Latino families who have children with cancer,” shares the foundation website. Eva truly is a gem among our celebrities that make us Texas proud!
3. Nick Jonas
Photo: Facebook/Beyond Type 1
Nick Jonas was born in Dallas, Texas. He is best known as a member of the widely popular Jonas Brothers. To his many talents today he is a multi-platinum selling recording artist, talented actor, and philanthropist. At the age of 13, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Through his struggles with this disease, he has persevered and shown us how to manage, live with, and even thrive with a diagnosis of Type 1. He co-founded the Beyond Type 1 organization to help improve the lives of those living with Type 1, educate the community about this chronic disease, as well as bringing resources and research to the forefront on Type 1 diabetes.
According to the website, “Beyond Type 1 bridges the gap from diagnosis to cure, empowering people to both live well today and to fund a better tomorrow. 100% of every dollar raised directly supports the most promising global efforts and programs working to educate, advocate and cure Type 1 diabetes.”
Nick Jonas along with Eva Longoria Bastón and Matthew McConaughey are truly exemplary advocates for the greater cause of giving back to their communities through their foundations and organizations by bringing research and opportunities for a better tomorrow. Their work and efforts make us proud to know they hail from Texas and have gone on to give back in more ways than one.
