June 6, 2005: Headlines: Television: People: Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is the son of two former Peace Corps volunteers who became health care professionals in the Latino community

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Peace Corps Library: Television: January 23, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: Television : June 6, 2005: Headlines: Television: People: Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is the son of two former Peace Corps volunteers who became health care professionals in the Latino community

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Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is the son of two former Peace Corps volunteers who became health care professionals in the Latino community

Desperate  Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is the son of two former Peace Corps volunteers who became health care professionals in the Latino community

Chavira is the son of two former Peace Corps volunteers who became health care professionals in the Latino community. His father, Juan Antonio, is the son of migrant workers; Chavira remembers his mother for her "great smile and great laugh." Though his father gave emotional and financial support, his mother's death--which the family rarely discussed--threw Chavira into turmoil. As difficult as those memories remain, Chavira, now 33, has decided to use his experience to help educate others. As a Latino, he hopes to reach out to the men of his community, especially those who have been raised not to talk about women's health issues. Even worse, he says, "some Latino women aren't getting early detection. They're fearful their husbands might get upset because they're going to see a male doctor for a breast examination." Chavira will serve as honorary chair of this year's Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's National Race for the Cure, to be held in Washington, D.C., June 4. "My message is, Guys, put the old ways aside. These are our mothers, daughters and wives."

Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is the son of two former Peace Corps volunteers who became health care professionals in the Latino community

Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira

People
June 6, 2005

Caption: Ricardo Antonio Chavira and Eva Longoria, regulars on ABC's "Desperate Housewives," are among growing list of Hispanic actors on the network.

On TV, Ricardo Chavira plays Eva Longoria's macho husband, Carlos Solis, a character known for his tough-guy persona. But off-camera, there's one subject that brings out the broad-shouldered actor's true vulnerability: the memory of a night in 1981 when, as a 10-year-old in San Antonio, he saw his father and mother, by then divorced, locked in an embrace. "My mom was in the kitchen, crying, and my dad was holding her, really crying," Chavira says. "I didn't understand. I thought, 'What's going on?'"

His mother, Elizabeth Ries Chavira, then 37 and raising three children, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Says Chavira: "When I saw her come home from the hospital after the first chemo treatments, I really knew. She was a healthy woman--5'5" and 120 lbs. She went down to 98 lbs. and lost all her hair." Six years later came the bitter end. "That morning I was with her," recalls Chavira, 16 at the time. "I came back from school, and she took a severe turn. Her breathing was erratic. I was with her. And she passed away."

As difficult as those memories remain, Chavira, now 33, has decided to use his experience to help educate others. As a Latino, he hopes to reach out to the men of his community, especially those who have been raised not to talk about women's health issues. Even worse, he says, "some Latino women aren't getting early detection. They're fearful their husbands might get upset because they're going to see a male doctor for a breast examination." Chavira will serve as honorary chair of this year's Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's National Race for the Cure, to be held in Washington, D.C., June 4. "My message is, Guys, put the old ways aside. These are our mothers, daughters and wives."

Wendy Mason, a spokeswoman for the Komen foundation, thinks Chavira is the right guy to get the message across. "His show is the hottest thing in town, and he's a big, strong guy talking about breast cancer. It helps take the taboo away." His DH costar Eva Longoria is equally supportive. "Ricardo and I are both Texans, both Mexicans, and we share the same values. Family is our No. 1 priority."

Chavira is the son of two former Peace Corps volunteers who became health care professionals in the Latino community. His father, Juan Antonio, is the son of migrant workers; Chavira remembers his mother for her "great smile and great laugh." Though his father gave emotional and financial support, his mother's death--which the family rarely discussed--threw Chavira into turmoil. "I was mad at the world, and I was thrown in jail three or four times for different things," he says. "Let's leave it at that."

He eventually rebounded, earning a master's in fine arts at U.C. San Diego and a role in Six Feet Under before Housewives. Today Chavira, unmarried, has a 2-year-old son, Tomas Antonio. Despite his current success, there is something he views as a greater accomplishment: In March, the San Antonio office of the Komen foundation featured Chavira in a pamphlet. When he showed it to his dad, says Chavira, "he said, 'This is the best thing you've ever done in your life.'"



James Denton and Ricardo Antonio Chavira, stars of the hit television show “Desperate Housewives,” have joined forces to help raise $10 million to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Lee National Denim Day

 Ricardo Chavira

James Denton and Ricardo Antonio Chavira, stars of the hit television show “Desperate Housewives,” have joined forces to help raise $10 million to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Lee National Denim Day

Caption: Character Carlos played by Ricardo Antonio Chavira is restrained in a courtroom scene from the hit series 'Desperate Housewives' in the season finale titled 'One Wonderful Day' in this undated publicity photograph released by ABC television network, May 22, 2005. (Reuters - Handout)

“Desperate” Men Ask Fans for $10 Million

James Denton and Ricardo Antonio Chavira, stars of the hit television show “Desperate Housewives,” have joined forces to help raise $10 million to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Lee National Denim Day®. Denton and Chavira are calling on fans and millions of workers nationwide to join them October 7 in wearing denim to work in exchange for a $5 donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

“For 10 years this program has transformed the workplace by bringing deep meaning to casual Fridays and unifying millions of people through two simple acts: wearing denim and making a donation,” said Kathy Collins, vice president of marketing for Lee Jeans. “Lee National Denim Day is about finding a cure for breast cancer – it’s about education and hope and the power of a pair of jeans.”

Chavira and Denton – commitment to the cause

Chavira and Denton share a passion for the cause: each lost his mother to breast cancer. Chavira’s mother died when he was a teenager while Denton’s mother died just two years ago. While their experiences with the disease are different, the pain breast cancer inflicted on their families is the same. By partnering with Lee Jeans and the Komen Foundation, they hope to spread the important messages of education and early detection so their unfortunate losses might be prevented for future sons and daughters. Additionally, as male spokespeople, Denton and Chavira hope to increase recognition of the important role men play as co-survivors – encouraging breast health and assisting a spouse, partner, mother, sister or friend in their fight against the disease.

Lee National Denim Day

Last year, approximately 27,500 companies helped raise more than $8.5 million on a single day bringing the nine-year fundraising total of Lee National Denim Day to more than $52 million for the Komen Foundation. In the coming months, Denton and Chavira will make personal appearances on behalf of Lee National Denim Day and appear in a national print ad campaign with the hope of recruiting millions of people to join the fight against breast cancer and reach the $10 million goal.

Learn more about Lee National Denim Day at www.denimday.com.






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Story Source: People

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Television; Service; Breat Cancer; Hispanic Issues; COS - Peru

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