Over the weekend, Russell Simmons, along with his bother, Danny Simmons, hosted the 13th Annual ART FOR LIFE East Hampton Benefit [the proceeds of which go to the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation].
This year’s event honored recording artists Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, Betsy Z. Cohen (Bancorp Inc.), Tamia and Grant Hill (The Grant Hill Foundation), and Marc J. Leder (Sun Capital Partners Inc.).
CNN’s Soledad O’Brien hosted the evening, while Star Jones was on the mic MC’ing the Rush Kids Auction. Musical performances included Anita Baker, Salt-N-Pepa, Melanie Fiona and Diggy Simmons.
Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation
Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is dedicated to providing disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, and to offering exhibition opportunities for underrepresented artists and artists of color. Rush was founded in 1995 by three brothers: Danny Simmons, visual artist and community builder; media mogul Russell Simmons; and Joseph (Rev. Run) Simmons of the legendary hip-hop group RUN-DMC. Their goal was to fill the gap that poor and minorities face in both accessing the arts and exhibition opportunities.
Rush is proud of its success to date and is also looking towards a future in which our programs grow to encompass more children and artists, and we can continue to enhance access to arts institutions and arts experiences for minority and economically disadvantaged populations. Our three program areas – education programs, exhibits and special projects – work together to open up the arts to populations facing hurdles to the joy and benefits of these experiences.
What They Do:
Rush Education Programs: Rush Education Programs serve an overwhelmingly poor minority population with a high percentage of special needs students (recent immigrants, students with learning disabilities, and students who are emotionally challenged). Presenting teaching artists conceive of lessons based in some aspect of their own studio practice.
Rush Galleries and Resource Centers: Rush Galleries and Resource Centers have a dual mission: to open up the art world to emerging artists – largely people of color – and to bring the experience of viewing and learning about art to diverse audiences that consist primarily of people of color and those in lower economic brackets. Galleries and Resource Centers are located in Chelsea and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.
Special Projects and Events: In addition to these two core programs, Rush organizes special projects and events for disadvantaged youth who participate in our programs. The Rush Blueprint Program and Rush Communications, both allow our young people to be given the opportunity learn about and explore careers in the nonprofit and commercial cultural community, as well as to connect to people in the industry. The Annual Youth Holiday Party is a celebration for all of the young people who participate in our programs and an important way to recognize their creative energy and provide them with a chance to showcase their talents among their peers.
To learn more visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.
