Antonio Banderas and Eva Longoria, battling charity events in Marbella

Eva Longoria presided over the third Global Gift Gala last Sunday in Marbella (Spain). The event is a solidarity festival organized every summer by the Desperate Housewives actress and her girlfriend Maria Bravo, a Spanish dancer and former girlfriend of Bruce Willis. Also in Marbella, the Starlite Festival is set to take place, sponsored by none other than Antonio Banderas.

But, why are there two major charity events so close together in the same popular, but small, city?

Until 2012, Banderas and Longoria were the two primary forces behind the Starlite Festival. But that year the event was split into two, supposedly “for reasons of agenda.” According to rumors, the Spanish actor refused to charge personal expenses to the account of the gala. Soon after, Longoria and Bravo launched a new philanthropic project: the Global Gala.

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This year, they brought together a number of stars of Spanish showbiz and some international artists as well, including the Puerto Rican Actor Amaury Nolasco, star of the series Prison Break. Longoria and her new love, the Mexican businessman Jose Baston, enjoyed the beaches, paella and shopping in the days preceding the festival, which the actress presented together with the Spanish singer Bertin Osborne.

All money raised is set to be shared between the Eva Longoria Foundation, Bertin Osborne Foundation and Global Gift Foundation, which will pass on its part to five chosen charities in Marbella.

Antonio Banderas, back in Spain after his divorce from Melanie Griffith

Antonio Banderas will make this appearance his first in Spain since his divorce from Melanie Grifitth on August 5 when the festival screens his latest film, ‘The Expendables 3?, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.

The highlight of the festival will be on August 9, when Banderas and the Argentinian model Valeria Mazza will present the Starlite Gala. The aim is to raise funds to improve education and overall quality of life for communities and families as well as underprivileged children. Proceeds will go to two foundations: the Mexican Niños en Alegria and the Spanish Lagrimas y Favores. The latter organization was created by Banderas himself and helps poor students and people with cancer.

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In addition, several awards will be given to people involved in social problems that have turned into “an inspiration”. One of them will be the Mexican businessman Carlos Slim, the second richest man on the planet, and a great philanthropist according to the organizers.

With these two galas, Banderas and Longoria prove again that they are two of the most caring Latino stars … despite those personal differences that have led them to a professional “divorce.”

Ricky Martin, Alejandro Sanz and Julio Iglesias at the Starlite Festival

The Global Gift Gala is eclipsed by the glare of Antonio Banderas’s Starlite Festival, which kicked-off with a show by The Beach Boys and offers a month of stunning concerts (from July 23 to August 23) from stars like Julio Iglesias (August 5), Ricky Martin (July 25) and Alejandro Sanz (August 22). The Spanish actor has recorded a video describing the event as one of the major charity events in Europe. And he’s right.

It is surely one of the most glamorous and exclusive events, as the shows take place in an outdoor space full of natural elements with a fabulous acoustics. There are only 2,200 spectators at each concert, which allows viewers to be very close to their favorite artists as there is very little distance between the seats and the stage.

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Also, the audience is free to enjoy an exclusive lounge area that attracts many of the international celebrities who each year choose Marbella as a holiday destination. They find an offering of art exhibitions, fashion shows and luxurious dinners based on the most exquisite Mediterranean cuisine.