Red Carpet Correspondent at Eva Longoria's Casino Night to Benefit "Eva's Heroes" Charity 2013

With the Director of Eva's Heroes, Christianne Perkins Garcia

 Doing what I can to help foster awareness and funds for those with Special Needs is one of the causes I MOST champion.  I have been involved w/doing so for the past several years including attending my fellow Latina Actress & Producer, the beautiful & Talented Eva Longoria's EVA'S HEROES Casino Night Charity events, either as a "Celebrity" Guest or, in recent years, doing my work as a Red Carpet Correspondent: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Special+Needs , http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Eva%27s+Heroes.   Here's my candid Red Carpet Interviews for LATIN CONNECTION TV at last year's event, featuring interviews w/actresses from the Cast of Eva's Hit #Lifetimetv show, #DEVIOUSMAIDS and her on-screen hubby from #Desperatehousewives, Ricardo Chavira! 

 Eva's parents are the SWEETEST people, remind me so much of my own, Jim & Raquel:) They were among my 1st and biggest fans during my participation on the CBS Reality Show, #SurvivorFiji 

 As such, I was grateful and humbled to have gotten pulled aside, while doing my work on the Red Carpet, to be interviewed as a "Celebrity" at the event! I'm AMAZED and beyond grateful at the outpouring of continued admiration for my participation on SURVIVOR Fiji. It was w/o a doubt, 1 of the hardest things I've ever done, but so very, very worth it! If you scroll below this post, you'll see a very recent award that I was just given by the European SURVIVOR fans...SURVIVOR FAN FAVORITE & OVERALL Reality Show Fan Favorite 2014!   Back to the REAL stars (pun intended) of Eva's Heroes Casino Night, Eva's Sister, for whom Eva's Heroe's was founded, the sweet and very fashionable, Lisa and the "Boy of the Year," 

The event didn't let down, as usual. There were even water dancers!  Here I am w/Eva's mom and a dear friend a close family friend, Lettie Longoria & w/one of my dearest friends, my fellow Greek, Barbie Partalas who was my "date" for the event because my hubby who is usually doing double duty as Videographer and the most handsome date, was out of town:(   Nowadays, seem's nothing's complete w/o a group shot.  Here's one for you...Eva surrounded by the Vegas Style Showgirls. When Eva does something of her sister, she goes all out! When I say "all out" I mean with Penguins greeting you! Water dancers... Live Auction and Live Band! 

  To get the complete  "Celebrity" experience, I even got an autograph of one of the "Devious Maid's" Actresses, the very sweet & pretty Edy Ganem for one of my followers and friends, José Casteñeda:) 

I'm certain next year will have lots of surprises in store! For more information about Eva's Heroes programs and how you can get involved with helping the Special Needs Cause, please, click here:   http://www.evasheroes.org

"National Celebrity Spokesperson:" INSPIRE A CHILD Organization video to promote raising funds for Charity

 Several years ago, I had the #outoftheordinary experience of becoming a #castaway on the @CBS #RealityShow #SurvivorFiji. I often tell people who ask me "how was it?" that I sound Bi-Polar when describing my experience on there because it was as horrible as it was exhilarating. Most of all, it has been rewarding. I call it "the gift that keeps on giving" to myself & my family through wonderful opportunities for my career on television & acting ( a career I had started many years before being on Survivor (being a Miss Venezuela contestant in 1989 opened that door, which I put on hold for 10 yrs. thru my married life in Mexico City, but that's a WHOLE other story..LOL)   The experience on Survivor Fiji gave me many things, among them, I found that I could use the very powerful public image that comes w/being on an internationally renowned show like Survivor, to do positive things.  Thus, in 2007 was awakened a natural essence, energy, drive to help others.  I turned the public's desire to meet me into donating my services as #Emcee for many charities, locally & nationally: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Charity or I would offer to do #redcarpet coverage or #interviews on the webshow that I #produce and #host http://www.latinconnectionmag.com/#!lctv/c1w7z.  Recently, I was given the Blessing of being named "National Celebrity Spokesperson" for a wonderful organization that helps keep #innercitychildren off the streets and in #afterschoolprograms.    I Produced the following brief video to help them continue to raise funds so that they can implement/provide after school programs.  I know these programs work. The Founder of this organization is a Product of one such program that saved his life. In my native #Venezuela, a similar program ended up creating a world renowned orchestra from children living in the #favelas..the conductor of that children's orchestra is now the @LASymphony conductor, @GustavoDudamel.  Thank you for taking the time to have a look!  #ritaverreos

Coaching the Miss California USA 09 Contestants!

We are thrilled with our winners: Carrie Prejean, Miss California 09 and Chelsea Gilligan, Miss Teen California
Mr. Keith Lewis and I met, 5 yrs. ago as co-judges for the Miss Texas USA pageant where the current Miss USA, pictured here with me, was running. She did not win the title of Miss Texas that year, although she was both Keith's and my favorite. After the pageant, we gave her some advice which she has been so kind to recount, that she applied our advice and credits Keith and I, in some way, for helping her ultimately become Miss Texas and then go on to win her current, Miss USA title.

For the 5th year in a row, Mr. Keith Lewis bestowed his faith in my abilities as Walking/Poise Coach for the 2009 Miss California contestants. It was, as it always is for me, an honor and an immense pleasure to work with ALL the girls. I won't elaborate as my dear brother blogged/bragged (:-) about my work: www.nickverrreos.blogspot.com. It was wonderful to meet our new Director, Shana Moakler, who is as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. Her whole family, ex-husband, Travis, recovering from the airplane crash burns was there supporting her and helping her with their 3 beautiful children.
It was also a pleasure to meet Chris Judd who was one of our "Teen" Judges. My mother is a HUGE fan of his from his appearance on "I'm a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here," which he won $200,000 for his favorite charity.

Correspondant for Latin Connection web TV at The Ferrari Kids Charity Red Carpet event, 2014

Recently, at a fashion show benefitting an Abused Woman's organization, DRESS FOR SUCCESS, I met a gentleman, Manuel or Manny as he's affectionately know, Diotte,  who heads a wonderful organization, The Ferrari Kid (www.theferrarikid.org)Manny took from his very personal experience as a Child to come up with a simple, but extremely rewarding idea.  Through a collaboration with Ferrari car owners, Manny provides these kids are coping with cancer, dealing with illness, going thru chemotherapy, radiation, and so much more.....with a ride  in a Ferrari.  Making them feel like a  celebrity for a day! 
Recently, he put together a shopping spree at one of the most popular outdoor Malls in San Antonio, Texas, La Cantera.  Different shops collaborated to provide manicures etc. as well as a delicious Italian meal, courtesy of Luciano's. I was so touched by this that I offered to add, hopefully, to the "celebrity" experience, by offering to do "Red Carpet" interviews of the children. 
Take a look at their "Red Carpet" moments! (#theferrarikidorg,#ritaverreos,#manueldiotte,#shopsatlacantera,#redcarpetcorrespondant,#dressforsuccess,#lucianositalianrestaurants)
* For images from a past DRESS FOR SUCCESS event: http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Dress+For+Success

Doing triple duty as Emcee, Host & Silent Auction Item?! at the Ronald McDonald House Charity 35th Annual Gala Fundraiser

I'm so grateful to God for continuing to give me ways to help others! When I reached out to Ronald McDonald House Charities to have them as guests on a "Community Affairs" Radio talk show that I used to Host on iHeart Radio in Miami  to help them promote this event, at the end of the interview, they surprised me asking me if I would consider being the Emcee for their 35th Annual Gala fundraiser!  ABSOLUTELY yes!  I also volunteered to be a Silent Auction ítem..yes, you read that right! I Volunteered myself and a fellow @CBS @Survivor Reality Show participant as a Silent Auction ítem: 

It was an honor to have been the Emcee for the 35th Annual Ronald Mc Donald House Charities Gala. This year it was held at the Donna E. Shala Student Center Ballroom at the University of Miami.  You can see a little of the beautiful view at the venue in the photo below 

with Soraya Rivera-Moya looking goregous in her emerald green gown!

 Besides being the Emcee...  I was also doing special coverage of the event for Latin Connection web TV.   Who was the inspiration behind the fouding of the Ronald Mc Donald House Charities? How did they raise the 1st 100K? How many Ronald Mc Donald Houses are there currently nationwide?  The answers from the Founders of Ronald Mc Donald House, Fran and Fred Hill plus special interviews with @Soraya Rivera-Moya, Dir. of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida  and Alexandra, recipient of a liver transplant and former ocupant at a Ronad Mc Donald's House PLUS hear from Fred and Fran Hill are here:http://www.latinconnectionmag.com/latin-connection-tv

With Soraya Rivera-Moya, Dir. of RMHC of South Florida at the Ronald Mc Donald House in Miami.

It was a night filled with delicious food courtesy of Aromas del Peru and groovin' to the sounds of Lucy Grau and, more importantly, testimonial that inspired donations to exceed the goal of 25K. I thank God for giving me this way to help this wonderful organization raise over 100K!  I visited the Ronald Mc Donald House in Miami.  While I was there, I saw many ways, besides montery donations that you can help! PLEASE, click the following link to see the MANY ways that you can HELP Ronald Mc Donald House Charities: www.rmhcsouthflorida.org 

I sign off being the proud sister of the designer of the gown I wore on the #redcarpet, a vintage #NIKOLAKI gown:) Can you guess why I wore gold? I'll give you another hint..I wore red polish...Still can't guess?  the Mc Donald colors! :)

Helping Local Charities 07

This event was one of the very first invites I received to help a local children's charity. It was a "Celebrity look a like"...as you can see me pictured with Wonder Woman. It was a really fun night complete with a talent show that featured a very talented local singer, the sexy, Marco Cruz. You can find his material on My Space.This is a sweet boy who wanted my autograph because I told him I was trying to look like "Rita" from Survivor...lol

"Celebrity" Spokesperson and Emcee for DRESS FOR SUCCESS Charity at 1st Annual Powerwalk

Recently, while at lunch with my mother, I made friends with our waitress. My kids and fiancé will tell you this is nothing new. I can't help it...I'm a people person:) Something about her stood out to me. She had a light about her, a constant smile on her face. As we were getting ready to leave, I complimented her. A few sentences later, she said I looked familiar. She was very sweet when she suddenly placed me from some of the work I've done on television in San Antonio. We quickly realized we were both single working mommies. She shared with me her early days of struggling and how an organization in San Diego helped her get on her feet. She then shared with me that she was very eager to get involved in the community.
 I immediately remembered my involvement a couple of years ago with an organization called DRESS FOR SUCCESS that helps women in need. With so much going on, I could have sworn I had already written a post about this, but when I searched for it on here, I found it had fallen through the cracks. So, here it is. As my son always tells me "Mother, it's better late than never!"  OF course, that's his response to when I realize he's yet to do something I've asked of him..LOL.

A couple of years ago, they asked me to be their Local "Celebrity" Spokesperson for their 1st Annual POWERWALK.

 The event brought out lots of people for a walk/run around the Wonderland of the America's Mall. These folks brought it because when I came down from my unplanned Salsa Dance with the band that was the entertainment for the event, my friend Ray Colao's band: 

With "Dress for Success" Director, Pamela Taylor and the Mayor of Balcones Heights-where the event was taking place, Suzanne De Leon

A few months before the event, the "Dress for Success" Organization held a Gala to Honor & Highlight some of their Success stories.  Here I am with a fellow television colleague, Ursula Pari, Anchor of the Ksat Evening News..the # 1 Evening News Telecast in San Antonio!

I'm wearing  a NIKOLAKI gown designed by my brother, Nick Verreos. Project Runway, Season 2 Top 5 and current Mentor on Lifetime TV's UNDER THE GUNN.

My participation on SURVIVOR Fiji was a Blessing. I'm so grateful that I realized what a Blessing it was so very early on (maybe not while I was out here on that island starving! LOL) All this I write to tanks SURVIVOR for giving me one of the MOST priceless gifts that I have ever been given (more valuable than the million dollars I could have won on there). A way/a tool to help others. I'm so happy that this young lady is now going to reach out to the DRESS FOR SUCCESS organization to do what she can to help them. If any of you who read this are also interested in this cause, please, don't hesitate to reach out to them.http://www.dressforsuccess.org/affiliate.aspx?sisid=61&pageid=1

THANK you, once again, to Charles Villafranca and Pamela Taylor for having made me their local "celebrity" Spokesperson for the event held a couple of years ago-advertised on this flyer.(#ritaverreos,#dressforsuccess,#spokesperson,#philanthropist,#ksat,#ursulapari,#nikolaki,#nickverreos,#redcarpetgowns)

"Walkin' the Walk" to help JDRF walk in Ohio! with my fellow SURVIVOR Reality Show "Castaways!" 2017 #Charity

Those who know me well, know that I'll go anywhere and pretty much to anything when it comes to helping others .

 Thus, when a couple of weekends ago, I got invited to be a part of the "Reality 4 Diabetes" Team for the @JDRF Walk in Ohio, thanks to the generosity of a sponsor for my flight and "The Crown Plaza" Hotel off I went for a weekend filled with events with SURVIVOR and Big Brother fans which raised funds to continue research to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. So far our team raised over 36K, but many of us, including me haven't reached our individual goals. I'm only $80 away!! from reaching mine. If you'd like to be a part of helping me continúe to help find a cure for Diabetes, PLEASE, click here to make any size donation. For a $10 donation, I'm happy to mail you one of my SURVIVOR Fiji Autograph cards. Send me a message on my instagram, Facebook or twitter account with your address so I can mail you the autographed card like the one below-the back also has pictures-those are a surprise for those who make the donation! PLEASE click on this link to make a donation:http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Walk/SouthwestOhioChapter4501?px=11428236&pg=personal&fr_id=6642

Now, back to everything I was so happy to do at the event to raise funds- I

went straight from the airport to the "High Wire?!"  at "The Main Event."  See for yourselves!

Ready to Walk the High
Wire before I Walk the JDRF Walk! 😬 I'm not gonna lie, it was kinda scary!!

 Next to this "high-wire" walk, one of the highlights of my trip was meeting a fellow iHeart Radio colleague.  The wonderful Mr. Moe Patterson who was also one  of the main sponsors of this event so THANK YOU so much Moe to you and your brother for providing the home where many of my fellow Reality Show Stars stayed. 

I'm glad  it's not such a small iHeart World-also, apparently i Heart employees are into wearing light blue-LOL

From there, we went to my favorite thing to do, meet the wonderful people that are making the donations to the JDRF. Here are some images from the 1st of 2 "Meet & Greets," that took place this weekend.

I  told you I was a "people-person!"  HUGS for my fellow Latina SURVIVOR 2X Winner, Sandra Diaz-Twine below on the left and Danielle, one of our youngest fans , on the right below

and with my "BIG BROTHER," Victor Arroyo, not literal, I mean from the Reality Show...LOL

Team REALITY 4 DIABETES! I'm on far-right middle...strking a pose, even at 8am💃

 ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET...GOOO!!

It was quite a crowd, of ALL ages. Check out the tiny participant in the video below...Wait, does a stroller count as a walk? LOL

 so I had to stop and do some "sight seeing" during the walk thru Kings  Island Amusement Park-France in the middle of Ohio-who woulda thank it? LOL

After the walk with a couple of my fellow SURVIVOR "Castaways,"  Jerri Manthey and Sugar 

Here I am about to partake in the GO Kart race alongside other fellow SURVIVORS and BIG BROTHER contestants!  

and on our last day...how about some Miniatura Golf? Yes, please, here I am with my "Miniatura Golf Team" comprised of SURVIVOR contestants and fans of the show! These wonderful fans pay a fee to participate in all of these fun activities with us. All the money gets donated to our JDRF "Reality 4 Diabetes" Team fundraiser which this year raised close to $30K!

Watch and learn peoples!  ...ha ha ha, but serisouly, I tied for 1st place!, yay!

On the last day, hours before embarking my flight to return to my home in Fort Lauderdale, we partook in what's apparently becoming a craze, The #EscapeRoom Experience. I had never heard of this, but there's a reason I was chosen to be on Survivor- I'll do pretty much anything-positive, of course. Here I am with another fellow Latino SURVIVOR "Castaway" Billy Garcia as we try to salve a puzzle as we warm up for our "Escape Room" task! 

Here we are with the rest of our "Escape Room" Experience Team was made up of  SURVIVOR fans. We had a BLAST figuring out the "mystery" hiding place of the Cincinnati Reds baseball tickets- We did it minutes before I had to be whisked away to the airport to cach my return flight!!! Whew!!

Not before giving a HUGE thanks to Tasha Wilkie and ALL the sponsors who made our being able to be there possible including The @CrownePlaza Hotel and a HUGE personal thanks to one of our DEAREST fans formerly known as "Big Mike" whom we're so happy for and proud of, btw, for his losing over 100 lbs, thus avoiding a diagnosis of Diabetes! THANK YOU so much Mike for sponsoring my flight.

Before I say goodbye for now, I want to give special thanks to one of our wonderful fans who many of us now consider a friend, the gentleman to who took MANY of the photos I featured here, like this one right above, Mr. Roger Beane. Arlighty, now I'm ready to say Hasta la próxima amigos! Until next time my friends! Love you 💗God Bless you today and ALWAYS!🙏