Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic & Target’s Annual Youth Holiday Party
Posted by bigced on December 1, 2007
Now celebrating its eighth year, Russell, Danny, Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons and Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation celebrate the 2007 Holiday season with the Eighth Annual Youth Holiday Party. Once again, the event will be held at New York City’s The Fillmore at Irving Plaza on Tuesday, December 11th from 4-7pm. This is a holiday party like no other and it gets better and better each year!
Some of Hip Hops biggest names annually join in the holiday cheer. In years past, Jay Z, Kanye West, Diddy, Cassie, Jim Jones, LL Cool J, Jadakiss, Juvenile, Doug E. Fresh, Wyclef, Tweet and Amerie have all come out to support the Annual Youth Holiday Party.
For the past seven years, hundreds of at-risk New York City kids affiliated with Rush Philanthropic supported programs have the time of their life at the Rush Annual Youth Holiday Party. On this special night Russell, Danny, Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, Master of Ceremonies, MTV’s Sway and Hot 97’s DJ Jazzy Joyce along with long time sponsor Target will come together bearing gifts and bringing holiday cheer.
The Target design team headed by Kristin Barrett Brown will transform The Fillmore at Irving Plaza into a festive silver and white winter wonderland with a custom made signature Target Bullseye wreath as the room’s centerpiece. Turn your head and you might miss something spectacular like the unveiling of the surprise celebrity Santa, or celebrity guest appearances. Surprises will keep coming all night, with raffle prizes ranging from BET’s 106 & Park prize pack that will include tickets to a live taping and meet and greet with hosts Rocsi and Terrance J., to exclusive gift packs from Akademiks, Baby Phat and House of Dereon. Each child will also leave with an exclusive Target gift bag filled with goodies including a Target gift card.
Since Target opened its doors in 1962, the company has dedicated five percent of its income to partnering with organizations to make positive changes in the community through education, the arts and safe families and communities. Today that translates to $3 million every week. Target is dedicated to celebrating diversity and believes in the power of partnerships with leading cultural institutions to foster creativity, promote learning and build stronger communities. Target is proud of its continued partnership with Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation as sponsor of its Eighth Annual Youth Holiday Party.
The event is all about showing love and support for the youth, and letting them know that their hard work and many accomplishments never go unnoticed. The event also gives the youth a time to shine by showcasing their talents and performing for their peers. Groups set to attend this year’s event include Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band, Future Giants, Groove With Me, Harlem School of the Arts, Multicultural Music Group, Peter Westbrook Foundation, Schomburg, The Point, Third Street Music, Untouchable Shorties, Working Playground and many more.
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.
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.
