RUSSELL SIMMONS AND DANNY SIMMONS’ RUSH PHILANTHROPIC ART FOR LIFE GALA RAISES 1.4 MILLION
Posted by bigced on August 2, 2007
Russell Simmons and Danny Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation (RPAF) raised 1.4 million dollars on Saturday, July 28th at their Eighth Annual “ART FOR LIFE” Not So Mellow Yellow East Hampton fundraising gala to benefit the organization, which supports under served New York City youth through arts education. The sold out event and one of the hottest summer tickets, held at Russell Simmons’ East Hampton home, welcomed close to 900 leaders from the entertainment, arts, business, and philanthropic communities. Land Rover was this year’s Platinum level sponsor donating a special edition luxury Land Rover for live auction. Ciroc Vodka was this year’s Silver Sponsor and HSBC Bank USA was this year’s Valet Sponsor.
“I’m always inspired by the generosity of the Hamptons community,” emphasized Russell Simmons, founder and Chairman of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. “Because of this community’s grace, many young people will imagine themselves out of what may seem to be unbelievably difficult conditions. Art education saves lives and transforms communities and countries, and the cultivation of creativity is the most important kind of education.”
The Simmons’ East Hampton property was transformed by David Beahm of David Beahm Designs and filled with butterflies, spinning sunflowers, luminous lighting, golden tablecloths and lavish centerpieces. Guests sipped tasty cocktails and sample Ciroc’s new vodka champagne, Nuvo, as they swayed to the soul music of DJ M.O.S and perused live and silent auction items like platinum sponsor Land Rover’s 20th anniversary limited edition Range Rover; the “Eighth Wonder of The World,” a luxurious 11-day all expense paid trip to South Africa; and the Victoria Secret Fashion Show Weekend in Los Angeles.
Event honorees Forest Whitaker with wife Keisha, Alvin Ailey’s Judith Jamison, The Brooklyn Academy of Music executives, Karen Brooks Hopkins and Joseph V. Melillo, entrepreneur Tracy Maitland and Unifund’s David Rosenberg hobnobbed with guests Rev. Run and family from MTV’s “Run’s House”, Petra Nemcova, Lyor Cohen, Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Kevin Liles, Chamillionaire, Cathy Hughes, Ally Sheedy, Nia Long, Deborah Cox, Rocco Dispirito, author Terry McMillan, and artists Kehinde Wiley, Victor Mathews and others.
“We didn’t have arts education or drama at my school and it was a teacher who introduced me to that world,” explained Forest Whitaker when presented with his award by Danny Simmons and Russell Simmons. “The work Rush Philanthropic is doing is so important because they are exposing kids just like I was to these great opportunities which can change a child’s life.”
For the first time ever, a special wardrobe was created in honor of this year’s color theme “Not So Mellow Yellow,” and fashion and accessories designers came on board donating yellow pieces from their personal collections. Designers Rachel Roy, Catherine Malandrino, B Michael, Giuseppe Zanotti and Lorraine Schwartz were some of the fashion designers who gave gorgeous pieces to the event’s luxury auction.
Back again this year was one of Rush Philanthropic’s Community Grants Recipients, the Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band, who kicked off the program, entertaining attendees at the close of the cocktail hour with a triumphant performance of Rihanna’s newest hit song “Umbrella”. World-renowned Simon de Pury, chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company, added excitement as the gala’s auctioneer.
The Rush Kids Live Auction, one of the most important parts of the evening, allowed patrons to sponsor New York city youth for one year of arts education through Rush’s educations programs. Each child was represented by one yellow balloon going for $1,000. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of H3 Enterprises, Inc. (”HTRE”), the first publicly traded hip-hop company, as well as President/CEO of HSAN (Hip Hop Summit Action Network), made a special donation on behalf of H3 Enterprises. “As we prepare to raise money for the Rush Kids program, I’m pleased to make this announcement,” Simmons stated. “I’d like to ask Dr. Benjamin Chavis to please stand up. He, on behalf of H3 Enterprises, Inc., has generously donated one million shares of company stock to Rush Education, valued today at $170,000.” The Rush Kids program raised $66,000 in addition to the in kind donation of the H3 Enterprises, Inc shares.
Funds raised through ART FOR LIFE will also provide support for many projects throughout the year dedicated to serving New York City youth through the arts. Each year, three youth groups are selected as the event’s featured beneficiaries. This year’s groups were Friends of Island Academy, THE POINT and Working Playground. These are just three of the over 50 New York City programs to which Rush Philanthropic provides grants throughout the year. Proceeds from ART FOR LIFE will also support Rush Philanthropic’s own signature education programs, as well as provide support for Rush Arts Gallery exhibitions featuring the works of emerging artists of color, and help launch Rush East New York, an arts oasis the foundation will open in Brooklyn this fall.
Since its inception, Rush has provided grants to dozens of non-profit organizations, including Donors Choose, Impact Repertory Theatre, Urban Word, Free Arts NYC, Art Start, Peter Westbrook Foundation, Groove With Me, Staten Islands Children’s Museum, P.E.N.C.I.L., Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band, Brotherhood/Sister Sol, The Ghetto Film School, the Northside Center for Child Development, Hollis Biddies and Third Street Musical School and has served countless visual artists through the exhibitions and activities of Rush Arts Gallery and Resource Center.
ABOUT RUSH PHILANTHROPIC ARTS FOUNDATION
Founded in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is dedicated to providing disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, as well as providing exhibition opportunities to under-represented artists and artists of color. While its primary emphasis is the arts, Rush Philanthropic is committed to the general well being of young people by considering a wide range of concerns. A 501(C) 3 organization, Rush Philanthropic fulfills its mission through three core programs: grants, exhibitions and mentoring. The Rush Community Grants Program annually provides direct funding to over 50 nonprofit organizations that offer education programming in all disciplines of the arts to New York City youth. Rush also runs two arts exhibition and education facilities: Rush Arts Gallery and Resource Center in Manhattan’s Chelsea arts district and the Corridor Gallery in Brooklyn’s Clinton Hill neighborhood. Our Rush Kids Visual Arts Mentorship Programs use arts education to create a spark that fires the imagination and creativity of the urban youth we serve. The Rush Impact Mentorship Initiative allows the foundation’s leadership to reach out to young people by taking them behind the scenes at Rush Communications’ headquarters for in-depth Q&A sessions with Russell Simmons and executives in music, fashion, and creative-related professions. Tangie Murray is the foundation’s Executive Director.
The organization is currently in a fundraising campaign for Rush East New York, an 11,000 square-foot arts education and resource center in the East New York section of Brooklyn. The building was a gift from United Homes. Rush Philanthropic believes in the vital importance of lifelong exposure to the arts, nurtured in early childhood, and anchored in sustained, creative experiences throughout one’s life.
