WineArtLA 2015 Benefits The Thrive Tribe Foundation

Los Angeles, CA, May 10, 2015 --(PR.com)-- On Saturday, May 16, 2015, The Lifestyle Maven’s WineArtLA 2015 will be held at the V Wine Room, 903 Westbourne Drive, West Hollywood, CA 90069 at 6:00 pm. It is a wine tasting and art auction event benefiting The Thrive Tribe Foundation, a Los Angeles nonprofit organization. Tickets are available at www.wineartla.com.

With a membership of about 2000 HIV-negative and positive gay men, Thrive Tribe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) volunteer and peer-led organization that has taken on the bold mission to achieve Zero HIV Transmission, with or without a cure, by creating communities that connect, support and educate men living with, and affected by HIV. Currently, 96% of Thrive Tribe Brotherhood members are, and remain in care. Tribe members alone make up 15% of California’s healthcare premium assistance program (OA HIPP). The Thrive Tribe has connected 200 HIV negative men to healthcare professionals for Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

“The Thrive Tribe is living proof that we could be the last HIV generation with negative and positive people loving together with zero transmission - even without a cure. If the world replicated our model, HIV could soon be eradicated,” says Kevin Stalter, Executive Director of The Thrive Tribe.

According to organizer R. Ayité Okyne and Board Member of The Thrive Tribe Foundation, “WineArtLA 2015 will feature flights of artisanal Californian wines carefully chosen by the sommelier at the V Wine Room; a selection of imported cheeses and charcuterie; a carefully curated collection of art pieces, and, of course, a gathering of some of the most beautiful people Los Angeles has to offer.” A VIP Champagne Grande Réception at 5:00 pm will precede the main event.

Artists confirmed so far for the event include:
Eric Schwabel, one of the most sought after photographers in Southern California, who runs Schwabel Studio in Venice. His bold style has been seen in commercials for major brands such as Toyota, Ritz-Carlton, and the Oscar Awards. He has also photographed celebrities such as Tim Robbins, Adam Lambert, and recently Neil Patrick Harris. schwabelstudio.com

Eugene Huffman, an out HIV+ rising Los Angeles based artist known for his abstract expressionist works in acrylics and metallic. Hidden images often reveal themselves in his one-of-a-kind pieces. liebeKunst.com

Sham Ibrahim, an American artist, actor, filmmaker and Hollywood socialite known for his amazing and thought provoking digital pop art portraits of celebrities. shampop.com

Connie Kurtew, a photographer from Leipzig, Germany who now lives in Los Angeles. She is known for her evocative, breathtaking portraiture and film, music video and promotional shoots. kurtewphotography.com

Darnell Bates, a Long Beach based photographer who specializes in landscape photography. His images tend toward a minimalist view, isolating images in natural, open, or urban landscapes creating a sense of solitude. darnellbates.com

Rob Sabala, is from Merced, California and graduated from Bob Jones University. He uses cubism to explore the beauty of the human form. Like Pablo Picasso's Guernica, color is essential in expressing emotion for him. His art has been exhibited as part of collections across America and Europe. Facebook.com/barbydell.

The Thrive Tribe Foundation is 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to achieve zero transmission of HIV with or without a cure, by reinventing the HIV story and developing connected communities through support and education. The Foundation’s unconventional method brings HIV-negative and -positive people together, ensuring that negative men stay protected and positive men achieve and maintain undetectable status so they cannot transmit HIV. Its programs reflect its 360º Health approach to keep members healthy in Mind, Body and Spirit.