Houston, Texas (PRWEB) January 25, 2012
I Am Waters non-profit Foundations founder, Elena Davis, invites you to attend a unique and thought-provoking charity luncheon on April 25th, 2012. A whos who of supermodels from the 80s will join Ms. Davis to highlight some surprising parallels in the lives of models and homeless Americans.
I was raised in poverty and was lucky to make my way into the fashion world. I understand what its like to be an object in society under the best and the worst circumstances. There is something about both worlds that for me became disconnected and apart from the mainstream. I know all too well what it means to be a target of judgment, says Elena Davis, whose life experience has spanned the extremes of fortune.
I Am Waters brings together some of the most highly photographed American models in history to discuss the commonalities between these two seemingly disparate groups. The participants will share ideas surrounding the issues of objectification, their insight into the I Am Waters project and how it relates to all of our lives.
Guests of the event are supermodels of the 80s: Cheryl Tiegs, Kim Alexis, Kelly Emberg, Joan Severance, Tara Shannon, Kim Charlton, Diane deWitt, Tony Spinelli and Jack Scalia. All have graced covers of the most established and prestigious magazines in the world, including Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Town & Country, Glamour and many others.
Since 2009, the I Am Waters Foundation has established a unique way to engage with the homeless and create a dialogue by organizing portrait photography sessions at various shelters. Photographer, Peter Duke, captures images of homeless men, women and children including families, veterans and the elderly in a positive light. The homeless are frequently portrayed as unfortunate people or objects of pity. We deliberately choose not to do that. says Peter.
The foundation uses these images as a vehicle to talk with individuals about their feelings of being homeless and their prospects for the future. The photos bolster the image homeless have of themselves, while providing a valuable keepsake (many had not seen a their own photograph in years). I Am Waters sees the images as a tool used to dispel stereotypes and bring a human face to an issue that impacts us all.
The mission of I Am Waters is to bring physical and spiritual hydration to American homeless by delivering branded water bottles with messages of HOPE, PEACE, DREAM and LOVE to homeless shelters and service providers. I Am Waters is the only organization of its kind in the United States.
FOUNDER BIO: In the 1980s and 90s, Elena was best known as a top fashion model. For over fifteen years, her image graced the covers of magazines, appeared in ads, on the pages of fashions most prestigious magazines, and she has been in more than 40 national TV commercials. She married Gregg Davis in 1994, and retired from her successful modeling career after the birth of their first child. Since 1997, Gregg and Elena and their three children have called Houston home.
Elena was one of four kids raised by a single mother on less than three thousand dollars a year and food stamps. Elena lived on the margins of society, attended a dozen schools, and finally dropped out of school in the 8th grade to work and support her family. She moved to Paris to pursue modeling at age 16. After a year of modeling overseas, Elena returned back to the States and signed with the renowned Ford Agency.
FOUNDER QUOTE: Homelessness is a national problem that gnaws at our countrys economic recovery and future. I am so impressed and inspired by the many great organizations that help the homeless with housing, job skills and food. I Am Waters compliments these groups with our mission to provide free, clean drinking water to the homeless. Water is the bodys most fundamental need. Our image-based awareness and education campaigns work concurrently to bring a human face to the American homeless to promote compassion and understanding.
For more information contact: Jayson Cooke
I Am Waters mailing address: 3262 Westheimer Road, Box 229, Houston, Texas 77098
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