Eva Longoria back in Marbella for Global Gift Gala  

American actress and star of Desperate Housewives Eva Longoria is returning to the Costa del Sol for one of the highest profile charity events of Marbella’s summer season. The lenses of the paparazzi are bound to be out in force as they focus attention on the Don Pepe Hotel for the fifth edition of the Global Gift Philanthropic Weekend in Marbella. It is of particular importance to the town this year, as the main beneficiary of the glamorous gala is right here in the form of the Global Gift House (Casa Global Gift), which will be officially presented to ‘major sponsors’ at a glittering event. The home will provide a base in Marbella for five local charities that benefit ill and disadvantaged children. It is a slight departure from previous editions, where money raised from philanthropists was distributed to good causes around the world. To some extent that is still the case, as The Eva Longoria Foundation and the Mensajeros de la Paz organisation, which has provided help to more than 51,000 children and 11,700 elderly people in retirement homes, as well as run a telephone service (Dorada Phone) to help ease loneliness amongst people living in isolation, will also benefit. This year the weekend events start on July 16th with the Global Gift Party—La Soirée Edition, where guests will enjoy a dinner prepared by the Babilonia Restaurant at the Olivia Valère nightclub. As well as a meal guests will be treated to live performances of the finest Spanish flamenco performed by El Carpeta, Janelle Fischer and Tony Méndez among others. On the morning of the 17th, the cameras will turn on the mystery international celebrities promised for the event (no names have been released yet) when the Casa Global Gift is officially opened. Donors will have the chance to meet the youngsters who will benefit from the centre, as well as to inspect the facilities that will be refurbished in the near future. All local companies involved in the Casa Global Gift project will also have the opportunity to make their donation in person to the ambassador and Honorary Chair of the Global Gift Gala—Eva Longoria. In the evening a star-studded gala will bring the weekend to a close at the Gran Meliá Don Pepe. Over the past five years Marbella has gained much international publicity thanks to the Global Gift Gala—estimated to be worth €10 million in advertising terms. Celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Terrence Howard, Amaury Nolasco, Shemar Moore, Taboo, Lara Fabian, Eva La Rue, Deepak Chopra, Pixie Lott, Olivier Chesire, Tallia Storm and Patsy Palmer, among others, have brought some jet-set glitter to Marbella. Charity founder Maria Bravo said: “We are proud to celebrate the Global Gift Gala every year in my city, and it is a great pleasure to receive the warmth of people, sponsors and collaborators as well as the affection of the media who make it possible for this event to be a success.” Michael Liggan, founder of Altavista Properties, commented: “Events such as this show Marbella at its best—celebrity glamour and philanthropic giving in unsurpassed surroundings. We congratulate Maria Bravo for firstly bringing so much good publicity to the town, but more importantly helping so many disadvantaged people in Marbella and around the world.”