Reality Rally 2012 for Breast Cancer!

PLEASE, click here to donate! http://www.active.com/donate/Realitystar2013/RR2013RVerreo(I need to raise just $800.00)  100% will go to the Breast Cancer Resource Center "Michelle's Place."  (www.michellesplace.org)  They help those who can't afford the exams, treatments they so desperately need. 

Last year, I was fortunate to have gotten invited, for my 2nd time, to participate in the REALITY RALLY (www.realityrally.com) created by a fellow SURVIVOR Castaway, Mrs. Gillian Larsen (to the left & Kim Goodnough, Director of Michelle's Place, below) to help raise funds for "Michelle's Place." The 1st year I participated, I'm happy that Gillian took advantage of my Runway Modeling Expertise and so I was one of the "Experts" at one of the Rally Stops. Click here for fun images/video from the 2011 Reality Rally where, alongside 80+  fellow Reality Show participants, we helped raise $30,000. (http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Reality+Rally).

This past year, I got to participate as an actual "Runner" in the Rally and I'm sooo proud to say that my team and I came in 13th place out of 90 some teams!!! The Producers of this Rally aren't messin' around! They create, well, very creative! Rally stops-reminiscent of the SURVIVOR challenges! LOL It's PANDEMONIUM when we take off..cuz, well, us 'SURVIVORS' aren't messin' around either!-especially yours truly when it comes to raising awareness and money for breast cancer-a dreadful disease that has claimed the life of 3 dear friends.  Diedra Auci Bradshaw, Jenn Lyon &, in this past month, Karen Martinez-my dear friend fellow News Anchor (below). PLEASE, Click here to see why this cause is so near and dear to my heart:  I had so much fun running around the BEAUTIFUL city of Temecula, from Rally post to Rally post:  from Acting out a Shakespeare scene, to Zip-Lining to Gold Mining to  Salsa Dancing (I aced this one for my team-provin' I got the Venezuelan rhythm in me.. ja, ja, ja) to transporting a glass of water in a race...look at my face folks...I told y'all I wasn't messin' around! LOL After the seriously fun Rally was over, it was time for some socializing. We got to meet fans. Here  I am with one of my favorite fans whom I met at another Reality Charity event that I do to help raise funds for a No-Kill Animal Shelter (www.realityfestival.com) Hours before the Rally, we do a "Meet & Greet" where we get to, well, meet fans, but also catch up w/each other. Here I am showin' some love to a couple of my favorite friends, my fellow Latina and ONLY 2X Winner of SURVIVOR, la Boricua, Sandra Diaz Twine and with my fellow SURVIVOR FIJI Ravu Tribemate, AnthonyRobinson I also met participants from other Reality Shows like "Amazing Race 20" Sisters, Misa and Maiya (below) Here I am w/fellow SURIVVORS, Bob Crowley (winner Survivor Gabon), Christa Hastie Waydo (Survivor Pearl Islands) vying for the OLYMPIC TORCH!  From the looks of us,  I think we thought it was the Immunity Idol! LOL.  This is a weekend full of events! At another "Meet & Greet" I got to meet a special Animal Friend, the "Harley" doggie. I LOVE dogs, can you tell?   The last night, the Red Carpet was rolled out. Here I am sharing a moment with my friend, THE Original one and only 1st WINNER of SURVIVOR and also a participant of THE APPRENTICE, Richard Hatch:  and the charismatic and very fashionable Lawon Exum of Big Brother 13 

It's all about Latin Music! From Red Carpet Correspondant to Emcee

Several months ago, I was happy to have gotten asked to be a Red Carpet Correspondant for Marvelez Productions (http://www.marvelezmedia.com)at the Salsa Music and Dance Congress held at the fabulous Grand Hyatt in downtown San Antonio, TX.  It was an all day, all night, all weekend affair...usually that's how we Latino's roll! Life is too short, you have to enjoy it, live it to the fullest and live it to the fullest they did! I interviewed the best of the best in Salsa Dancers from all over the US, Central and South America.  I felt particularly excited and proud to meet my fellow Venezuelans pictured here with me. I know we have the Salsa rhythm in our blood! Viva Venezuela mi patria querida! It's also always wonderful to run into my friend, the Talented Ray Colao (below) his band is one of my favorites, please: "like" him on Facebook: (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colao-Entertainment/202773773088072)

Last, but NOT least, the main attraction of the Salsa Congress, meeting a name in his own right, following closely the footsteps of his legendary father, Tito Puente (to my left, below)  During the interview, I mentioned his "sister" the beautiful Sheila E.-because I'm a big fan of hers.  Little did I know that I'd get to interview her a few months later! (Read below:)   Special thanks to @Julio Velez, to my left, for asking me to be the Red Carpet Correspondant at this wonderful event. Also to @Wayne Zamora, Owner of Latin Connection Magazine, for recommending me to Mr. Velez. Please, click here if you want to see some past Latin Connection Magazine covers that I'm so Honored and Blessed to have been featured in  (http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Latin+Connection) 

CELEBRATING more Latin music, Last November, I was very happy to  Emcee one of Main Plaza Conservancy's funnest events: The Texas Latin Music Festival! Once again, as it is with us Latinos:)  It was an ALL day affair, filled with the most talented singers, musicians, artists while the audience delected in the tastiest food & drinks throughout the afternoon on thru midnight!  The crowd slowly started arriving at noon and the Main Plaza filled up as the afternoon wore on to near full capacity crowd at midnight.  Those who attended enjoyed the lineup of a wondeful varierty of music-so characteristic, I feel, of the variety that the city of San Antonio, in general, has to offer.   Please, enjoy the images and videos:  

Ole! SUSPIRO FLAMENCO

A visit from this representative of the Indian community in San Antonio

What a treat to meet the Beautiful and Talented Patricia Vonne. I LOVED her unique style of music so much, I approached her to feature her music as soundtrack for  a movie that I'm acting in and Co-Producing called "Jimmy and Mia." Little did I know Patricia is a veteran of the movie world. Her brother is none other than the movie director, Robert Rodriguez!  To see previews of the movie I'm working on, please, visit our website: www.jimmyandmia.com and "like" us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jimmyandmia.  Thank you!

It's always wonderful to run into friends I've made throughout my career on television and Emceeing events.  I was so happy to see the classy Carlito Miranda, Chris Perez' Manager, whom I had met a couple of months earlier when I Hosted a special "Meet and Greet" book signing to promote Chris's book: To Selena, With Love at Wonderland Mall, San Antonio, TX. Here I am interviewing Chris at the 1st Annual @PEOPLE en Espanol Magazine festival held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in September 2012.  I also had the Honor and, am not gonna lie, was a bit Star-Struck when I got to meet and interview the SUPER Talented and ever glamorous, Ms. Sheila E!    For even more images of the Latino Music Festival, please, visit: (http://www.mainplazaconservancy.org/38901.html )  Special thanks to @Jane Pauley-Flores for asking me to Emcee the Plaza Conservancy's 2012 Latino Music Festival.

The US Army Bowl 2013

The 1st weekend of January marks an exciting football bame, the @US Army Bowl!  Thanks to my involvement in helping the US Army Recruiting Batallion, my small way of thanking our soliders for their service to our Nation, I've been fortunate to attend in the past several years. Please, click here to see images from my attendance/involvement in past Army Bowls:http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=us+army  The @US Army goes ALL out with a line-up of events starting with a breakfast held in recognition of United States Army Future Soldiers.  Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond F. Chandler(pictured below), (SMA), Major General David L. Mann, Commanding General of Unites States Army Recruiting Command and Command Sergeant Major, Todd A. Moore hosted a breakfast the morning of the Army All-American Bowl on January 5, 2013, to recognize over 100 young men and women who will be joining the US Army. SMA Chandler commended these Future Soldiers for their commitment to their Country and to their future.  

United States Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) Deputy Commanding General, Brigadier General Henry L. Huntley, congratulates one of the Future Soldiers for his commitment to the Army.(to the right)

 USAREC Commander, Major General David L. Mann visits with several Future Soldiers at the breakfast and welcomes them to the US Army(above)

(Left)SFC Daniel P. Scott, San Marcos Recruiting Company and SGT Brent P. Mciver, San Antonio East Recruiting Company visit and answer questions with Future Soldiers.

I made a point to stop and greet Col. McGee(left). Besides the obvious Honor, I'm particularly happy to always greet him and thank him, 1st and foremost, for his service to our Nation and, on a lighter note, for him and his wife's huge admiration of the Reality Show I, pun intended...survived, LOL... @SURVIVOR Fiji!

It's thanks to my friend /Lt. Col. David Grant, Head of the San Antonio Recruiting Batallion that I was a part of this special breakfast as well as being able to take my kids and father, also, a bit later that afternoon, to the main event: The Army Bowl!

 After the delicious Taco Breakfast, we were energized and went to the next series of events that the Army had lined up. The ARMY ZONE! 1st stop, an actual Army Medical Helicopter.  Here, I ran into another friend of mine and @LATIN CONNECTION Magazine, "Longhorn" Gene.  We were fortunate to be there at the same time to have the Honor to meet 3 star General Tally.

Further into the ARMY ZONE. I decided to line up to try one of the G6 Fighter Jet Simulators and was intercepted by "Longhorn" Gene and  General Mann, who,  I was pleasantly surprised , knew of me thanks to  my participation on the CBS Reality Show, SURVIVOR Fiji.

Miss San Antonio USA 2012-13, Che White-Miss San Antonio Director, "Longhorn Gene," Miss Teen San Antonio USA 2012-13

After visiting the ARMY ZONE, I was ready to head to the Alamo Dome for the Army Bowl! It's an exciting game featuring the BEST High School football players in the Nation. For the 13th year in a row, some the best and brightest future stars of the college football gridiron came together in San Antonio for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Each year dozens of elite prospects go head-to-head all week in practice trying to showcase their talents for former NFL coaches, the fans, their fellow recruits and college coaches. The East Team (black) defeated the West Team (yellow) 15-8 on the back of a few big plays from its offense and special teams.  The game is attended by close to 40,000, among them, my fellow Beauty Queen title Holders (above)@Miss San Antonio USA.  Last, but not least, the MAIN reason the Army has created this event, to Highlight our Nations Soldiers, to applaud their bravery, selflessness and dedication to Protect our FREEDOM. I'm so Honored to be standing among just of few of them (left).  

The last of things on the list of events set up by the Army, was a Tandem Parachute Jump with the World Champions, THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS. Bright and early the next morning, once again, HUGE thanks to Lt. Col David Grant, I was able to be a part of the World Champion Golden Knights Tandem Parachute Jump-this time, as a Viewer. Several years ago, I was given the opportunity to take this Leap of Faith! LOL and I did. Here I am Tandem Jumping w/Billy V...ARMY STRONG!! This year, when Lt. Col. David Grant offered me the same opportunity, I decided to give someone else a chance to have this once in a lifetime experience, so my boyfriend, Carl Mergenthaler, pardon the pun....Jumped at this chance! A little trivia on Carl. He currently Wrote, is starring in and Producing a wonderful feature film called "Jimmy and Mia" (stay tuned to LATIN CONNECTION Magazine for more details about that). To the right, Carl and I with Col. Mark Rado, Commander US Army Accessions Support Brigade. A little trivia on Col. Rado..he was Jay Leno's first Agent! Huge thanks to him for squeezing Carl in that day as they had a record 29 jumps!!  The @GOLDEN KNIGHTS Team did an amazing job under the Command of Lt. Col. Jose E. Melendez proving why the are the current World Champions! Can I get a  Hooah!!

Coaching Miss USA winners: Past, Present and Future?

I'm so proud and thrilled that I now add one more "Miss USA" to my list of girls that I've had the pleasure and priviledge of Coaching:  @Nana Meriweather!  From the 1st time I saw this over 6' STUNNING girl in the group of girls I coached for the Miss California USA pageant a few years ago, I recall telling her, according to my expert "Miss Venezuela Beauty Pageant School" Trained eyes,  she had the makings of a Miss Universe!  Click here to read how she took part of what I tell ALL my girls-everything happens for a reason. If you maintain a positive mind frame you can turn what may seem like a "loss" into a WIN! Nana did just that. Click here to read how:  http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Miss+USA
A few years ago, I also had the pleasure of having another one of my girls crowned "Miss USA,"  @Crystle Stewart, whom I 1st met when I was a Judge at the Miss Texas 2004 Pageant. She was my front runner. Unfortunately, the other Judges didn't agree with me and another girl won. Afterwards, at the Crowning dinner, she asked me for advice to help her win-which I gave her; a minor "hair styling" detail (as w/everything in life, however, it's all in the small details), and a big detail-public speaking instruction.  She followed my advice and, voila! She became Miss Texas 2008 and, ultimately, Miss USA 2008!  Click here to see photos of Crystle and I at the @Miss California USA 2008 pageant:http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=Miss+USA.  

Showing Jenna the correct foot placement to strike the perfect basic pose!

Last, but not least, I recently Coached this young Beauty Queen for the @Miss American Coed National Pageant. She competed amongst approx. 65 girls from across the US and came out w/several trophies! "National Academic Achievement," "National Best Smile" and made Top 15.  Jenna Covarrubias is the current Miss American Coed Miss Texas Junior Teen!

1st Latina Emcee for 2012 RINGSIDE SA Boxing Event!

RINGSIDESA, GALA 2012

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

FREEMAN COLISEUM

3201 EAST HOUSTON STREET

SAN ANTONIO TX

RING ANNOUNCER

LUPE CONTRERAS

MISTRESS OF CEREMONY

RITA VERREOS

NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMED

BY PATSY TORRES

6:00 PM - RECEPTION

7:00 PM - DINNER & PROGRAM

9:00 PM - DANCE

Several years ago, I was asked to be a "Ringside" girl at a boxing event in San Antonio. Since I'm no where near being a "girl," I was extremely flattered and accepted the "gig"! Lol Please, click here(http://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=celebrity+boxing) to see images from that event which was the 1st Annual Ringside SA. That one was held at the University of the Incarnate Word's Burton Grossman Salon. Thanks to very hard work and excellent PR, the event has catapulted in size to this years location; The Freeman Colisseum.  What an Honor to go from "Ringside" girl to becoming the 1st Latina to Emcee this event. special thanks to Maritza Quiroz of CE Group for recommending me. 

I'm not gonna lie, after Emceeing the 2012 RINGSIDE SA Boxing Event, I was even more grateful to havebeen asked to Emcee and not box! These were serious bouts...blood flying and all, yikes!  Lord knows I paid in my dues on SURVIVOR FIJI-breaking my cartiledge in my nose during the "Sumo Wrestling Challenge" was enough:( 

3201 EAST HOUSTON STREET, 

ATTIRE: BLACK TIE OPTIONAL

....I Survived, yay! 5 years later, all cleaned up:)

It was a pleasure to be in the Ring with the eloquent and very well know Ringside Fight Announcer, Mr. Lupe Contreras

 This event raised funds for the Southtexas Hispanic Fund. Kudos to the following talented and very professional women heading the Production of this succesful event: , Maricela Espinoza-Garcia & Marisela Barrera. People usually say "God works in mysterious ways."  In my life, God, actually, works in very clear ways. A few days ago, at a the "Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas" 5th year Anniversary event (https://www.girlscouts-swtx.org/) I met Mr. Dennis E. Noll,"SA Area Foundation" one of the main sponsors of Ringside SA (left). I was pleasantly surprised to find out was a big SUVIVOR fan!