NEW YORK, NY (Top40 Charts/ Inez Weinstein Special Events) Russell Simmons and
Danny Simmons, founders of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, will celebrate their 12th annual ART FOR LIFE East Hampton benefit gala on Saturday, July 30th at Russell Simmons East Hampton estate. The star-studded fundraising event will honor recording artist Mary J. Blige, actor/filmmaker Edward Norton, OBE and Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Jimmy Choo
Tamara Mellon, President of JPMorgan Chase Foundation Kimberly B. Davis and world renowned nutritionist and author Oz Garcia. The star-studded fundraising event will be hosted by CNN's
Soledad O'Brien. The View alumni Star Jones will serve as the Rush Kids Auctioneer. The event will also feature entertainment from world renown mentalist Lior Suchard and a special performance by Grammy award-winning artist
Jennifer Hudson as well as Miri Ben-Ari.
Music will be provided by DJ M.O.S.
This year's featured Artist is Kara Walker, with Gwyneth Paltrow and Kimora Lee Simmons & Djimon Hounsou serving as Honorary Chairs. Event Chairs include LaLa Anthony, Marc J. Leder, Katie Lee, Esther Silver-Parker, Uma Thurman and Patricia Velasquez. Lucille Blair and Kehinde Wiley will serve as Art Auction Chairs. Shamin Abas, Angella Forbes, and Natasha Silver will serve as the Luxury Auction Chairs.
ART FOR LIFE East Hampton is Rush Philanthropic's primary annual fundraising effort that helps support thousands of underserved New York children. Close to 800 industry leaders from the entertainment, arts, business and philanthropic communities attend the event each year. ART FOR LIFE is one of the most anticipated events of the Hamptons Summer season and sells out annually. Last year's event raised over $1.1 million. Proceeds from the annual gala will benefit the Foundation's own visual arts education and gallery programs.
Russell Simmons has always held a firm belief that ART SAVES LIVES. He says, 'Now more than ever it's important to put the spotlight on arts education. Programs that propel arts education like Rush Philanthropic not only expose our children to a new way of expressing their creativity; they also can transform their lives. For every dollar we raise, we have the chance to help keep these crucial educational programs in our schools.' There are a few tales left and being sold at a premium.
The annual gala will have an eastern-inspired environment with calming, tranquil tones of sun-kissed saffron and red jade, setting the tone for The Zen of Giving. Creative Director and Founder of Sutra Productions, Bruce Sutka, says this year's theme 'Is all about reaching a higher state of mind through sharing with others. We're inspired by the colors and tones of India and the serene, enchanting feeling they evoke. The décor perfectly exemplifies everything that Rush Philanthropic stands for—creativity, love and an ongoing sense of wonder.'
This year's art auction will feature Works on Paper from some of the art world's most celebrated names: Donald Baechler, Sanford Biggers, Ross Bleckner, John Chamberlain, Chuck Close, Eric Fischl, April Gornik, Jenny Holzer, Brice Marden, Victor Matthews, Julie Mehretu, Toyin Odutola, Yoko Ono, David Salle, Danny Simmons, Peter Soriano, Peter Tunney, Kara Walker, Carrie Mae Weems and Terry Winters.
For the fourth consecutive year, Rush Philanthropic will team up with online auction experts Charity Buzz to further the event's charitable outreach. Charity Buzz works with top causes and their charities to raise funds and awareness through innovative auctions on a global basis. The ART FOR LIFE online auction will be live through August 10th. Celebrity packages to be auctioned off this year include an Alec Baldwin 30 Rock set meet and greet, personal experiences with Gwyneth Paltrow, Justin Timberlake, Tracy Morgan, Edward Norton or Soledad O'Brien, an experience with Vogue and Anna Wintour, a six month nutrition program from Oz Garcia and much more. Bidders can click https://www.charitybuzz.com/artforlifehamptons for a chance to take home an array of hot items and celebrity experiences. Donors can also give $10 to Rush Philanthropic by texting the short code 'RUSH' to '50555' from their mobile phones. Charges will appear on their wireless bill, or be deducted from their prepaid balance.*
The ART FOR LIFE East Hampton benefit receives a great amount support from the entertainment, art and financial communities. Past participants, attendees and supporters have included New York Governor David Paterson, Vanessa Williams, Kyle MacLachlan, Adrienne Bailon, Donna Karan, Aretha Franklin, Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Gayle King, Forest & Keisha Whitaker, Susan Sarandon, Alicia Keys, Usher, Tim Robbins, Petra Nemcova, Kimora Lee Simmons, Padma Lakshmi, Deepak Chopra and Kasseem 'Swizz Beatz' Dean Attendees to this year's event include: Joseph "Rev. Run" & Justine Simmons, Angela Simmons, Ice T & Coco, Jennifer Esposito, Jessica White, Lyor Cohen, Maxwell, Michael Strahan and Ryan Leslie.
ABOUT RUSH PHILANTHROPIC ARTS FOUNDATION
Founded in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph 'Rev. Run' Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to providing inner-city urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, and to offering exhibition opportunities for underrepresented artists and artists of color. Over the past 16 years, Rush has developed a broad base of friends, collaborators and supporters dedicated to supporting its mission. In addition to the 2,300 students served in its education programs, each year Rush exhibits the work of 40 to 50 emerging and community-based artists in its galleries; welcomes over 10,000 gallery visitors; and provides unique opportunities for young galleries and arts education programs in Chelsea, Manhattan (Rush Arts Gallery) and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (Corridor Gallery). Rush Education Programs are designed to inspire students, provide positive alternatives to high-risk behaviors, and support increased academic performance.
For more information, visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.
