Renowned Brazilian Artist, Romero Britto Unveils Portrait of Philanthropist/Author, Ava Roosevelt

Dec. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- ROMERO BRITTO PERSONALLY UNVEILS PORTRAIT OF AUTHOR AND PHILANTHROPIST, AVA ROOSEVELT
Palm Beach Introduction of The ETP Foundation
Internationally renowned authors, artists and astronaut among guests
(Palm Beach, Fl---) Nearly 100 guests observed as internationally renowned Brazilian artist, Romero Britto, unveiled his portrait of philanthropist and author of The Racing Heart, Ava Roosevelt on December 15th. Guests delighted in glasses of Prosecco, passed hors d’Oeuvres, and the chance to mingle with the artist and his muse. The reception, hosted at Roosevelt’s Palm Beach residence, also served as a ‘friend-raiser’ for the Education Technology & Performance Foundation (www.ETPFoundation.org), a new charitable trust which Ava serves as a member of the Advisory Board. The ETP Foundation advocates the use of effective technology in education, raising funds and increasing philanthropic support for education, technology and performance in schools. Eighty-five new friends all committed to improving children's reading capabilities in local schools, some taking an extra step by joining the Advisory Board. Image Skincare graciously donated their products for all the guests.

“A friendship and mutual admiration is the inspiration for the portrait,” says Roosevelt.

Guest of honor, Romero Britto, whose vibrant work the New York Times describes “exudes warmth, optimism and love,” exhibits his works in over 100 countries, including the Carrousel du Louvre and the largest art installation in Hyde Park. By also collaborating with numerous philanthropies and creating children’s books, he is an artist as an agent for positive change.

“It was such a spectacular evening—the unveiling of Ava’s portrait at her home was an amazing setting to celebrate the beauty of America through art and history,” says Britto.

Among the attendees that joined Britto and Roosevelt’s celebration were the ETP Foundation Board of Advisors: Founder and Chairman Bridget R. Yeakle, author Dame Beatrice Fairbanks Cayzar; and Dr. Edgar Mitchell, the 6th man to walk on the moon; Swedish Interior Designer Extraordinaire, Lars Bolander; Founder of Image Skincare, Janna Ronert; Robert and Toni Holt Kramer; Javier Bohorquez, Stephen Myers, Joanna Ballerini, Maureen and Orty Woodward, Kristi Witker, Geraldine and Mel Stier, Lady Caroline Coates, Peggy Dillard, Joe and James Dryer, Scott Mosses, Katherine Davis, Paulette Noble Cooper . Bob and Mary Simses, Carol, Scott and Eliza Williams, Robin Jay. Marianne and Michael Shaheen, Sam Whittiker, Claudia and Bill Peterson, Frannie Sevila-Sacasa, Neil London and Gina Palmer, Chip James, Cheryl Marshman, Kristina von Merveldt, Baroness Silvia von Hohenberg, and Velia Nader.

About Romero Britto
Romero Britto was born in Recife, Brazil in 1963. Self-taught at an early age, he painted on surfaces such as newspapers. In 1983, he traveled to Paris where he was introduced to the work of Matisse and Picasso. He combined influences from cubism with pop, to create a vibrant, iconic style that The New York Times describes, "exudes warmth, optimism and love."

In 1988, Britto moved to Miami and emerged as an international artist. In the following year, he was selected alongside Andy Warhol and Keith Haring for Absolut Vodka's "Absolut Art" campaign. Britto's pop sensibility has since leant itself to many collaborations with such brands as Audi, Bentley, Disney, Technomarine, Evian and FIFA, for whom he created an official poster for the 2010 World Cup. He has also illustrated several books published by Simon & Schuster and Rizzoli.

About the Ava Roosevelt
Ava Roosevelt, widow of William Donner Roosevelt, FDR’s grandson, is a former columnist and feature writer for the Palm Beach Journal and also Cavallino Magazine specializing in financial and motor racing matters. She studied French literature at La Sorbonne, Paris, France and creative writing at Columbia University, New York.

Ava worked for an international intelligence company, The Fairfax Group, based in the Washington, D.C. area, headed by the internationally-recognized counter-terrorism expert, Michael J. Hershman. Ava published her first novel, The Racing Heart, in 2011. The romantic thriller, is a tale about a passion-filled life-long quest to achieve emotional security, transforming its heroine, Tygre, from a timid, vulnerable and provincial teen into a glamorous supermodel, ultimately involving her in a life or death drama of international intrigue. www.theracingheart.com

She currently divides her time between Palm Beach, Florida and Wilson Point, Connecticut.

About The ETP Foundation
Founded in 2012, The ETP Foundation is a public charitable trust that helps to raise funds and increase philanthropic support for education technology and performance in schools and advocates the use of effective technology in education. The foundation receives donations from individuals, companies, and other foundations to benefit public and private schools; manages its endowed gift funds and other private assets; and advises community leaders in areas related to public trust and support of education. The endowed funds it manages provide faculty, student and program support in perpetuity.

The foundation plays a vital role in generating much-needed private support for schools. While states provide critical core support to schools, philanthropic support is essential to maintain our margin of excellence in all areas of education and research. The grants that schools receive through the ETP Foundation make a tremendous impact on the students, faculty, and schools. The ETP Foundation gratefully accepts gifts that foster educational excellence and helps to ensure that those gifts present even greater opportunities for the schools and STEM programs.