News

FORUM 3 Inc. PRESENTS:

THE THEMBALETHU BEADER CAMPAIGN

 in collaboration w/ DIONNE WARWICK  

  On July 9^th celebrity iconic photographer MIKE RUIZ shot the 1^st press tier photo shoot in support of the THEMBALETHU BEADER CAMPAIGN.  These celebrity, fashion, and film notables joined forces to produce a campaign photo shoot which will be the catalyst for this global human rights campaign in an effort to bring economic stability, health reform and awareness to women’s rights in America and South Africa which has the highest rate of HIV in the world.

Photo participants included legendary songstress DIONNE WARWICK, legendary cover models past and present SANDI BASS, PAT CLEVELAND, SESSILEE LOPEZ, NYKHOR PAUL, HILDA LEE, and DRIELLE VALARETTO at 16 Beaver Studio in New York City.  

 Dionne Warwick joined the battle against HIV and AIDS back in the 1980s as an ardent fighter and pioneer within the Black community for promoting health reform and awareness of this disease.  Decades later she is continuing her fight against the epidemic by collaborating with these legendary women to create a global platform in America and South Africa.  The estimated rate of new HIV infections for black women in the U.S. was more than 15 times as high as the rate for white women, and more than three times as high as that of Latina women.

    

 Sandi Bass has been credited as the 1^st African American Muse of acclaimed and legendary designers Valentino and Givenchy.  Besides her philanthropic endeavors she is currently enjoying success as an international model scout placing models in Asia, Europe and the USA.  She is a casting director and sought after lecturer on the “business of modeling”.  Her recent television credits include guest judge on America’s Next Top Model.
    
Camille Evans and Richard Pelzer of Forum 3 were instrumental in uniting these legendary notables in support of the work of founder, actor, singer and the original “Rafiki” in the Broadway hit Lion King, Thuli Dumakude.  The Thembalethu Beaders consisted of 45 rural women of South Africa who create ornate traditional beaded jewelry to be sold as a means of economic independence.  With the plague of AIDS, 15 women have succumbed to the disease, 5 have active TB and cannot work.  Recently a hurricane destroyed the community center in Durban, South Africa where the women went daily to work.  Our goals are to re-build the center and provide economic freedom to this rural community.  Proceeds from the campaign will benefit the Thembalethu Beaders.  www.thembalethubeaders.org

 FORUM 3 is a philanthropic entertainment and media company devoted to producing public good and innovation. FORUM 3 leverages every facet of pop culture, celebrity and media relations to spark social movements, to ignite dialogue and debates about pressing policy and to influence and mobilize the masses.

 Thembalethu Beaders focus is to provide assistance to women; training them to understand how to create and prepare products for marketing to overseas markets, stressing the importance of quality control and packaging, making it possible for the village to provide employment for its citizens with a special emphasis on the story of these women and the impact of the HIV/AIDS pandemic on their families and communities.  www.thembalethubeaders.org

 Contributing Sponsors: 16 Beaver Studio, K&M Rentals, Go Studios, Zephra Magazine, Steven Littles for Swollen Eye Productions

 Credits: Ancestral Beads by Larry Brown, Civi-li'za-tion by Tunu, John Guanlao, Antwon Johnson (Hair), Torrence Forde (hair & Makeup), Angelina Scantlebury (Fashion Stylist), Alyn Martin (Hair and Makeup), Sadia Seymour for Halley Resources (Fashion Stylist), Harriet Zafonni for Harkiss Designs, Photographer Assistant: Enrico De Conti, Nia Johnson (Hair), Sandra Marshall-Haye & Stedman Young of Tafari Tribe

 For press inquiries and further information contact:

Camille Evans camille@theforum3.net or Richard Pelzer richard@theforum3.net