Art For Life Honorees Include Dave Chappelle, Simon And Michaela De Pury, Ava Duvernay & Featured Artist Wangechi Mutu
Hosted By Soledad O’brien With A Special Performance By Bell Biv Devoe, And Music By Dj M.O.S.
Honorary Chairs Include Star Jones And Loren Ridinger & Jr Ridinger
2015 Art For Life Sponsors Include Gold Sponsor Bombay Sapphire® Gin And Silver Sponsor Merrill Lynch
NEW YORK, NY (June 24, 2015) – Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is proud to celebrate its 20th Anniversary at the 2015 ART FOR LIFE Benefit on July 18th at Fairview Farms in Bridgehampton, NY. This year’s gala will honor Dave Chappelle, Michaela and Simon de Pury, Ava DuVernay, and featured artist Wangechi Mutu for their support of the arts, career achievements, and overall commitment to our communities.
This year’s private event will be hosted by longtime Rush friend and supporter, Soledad O’Brien, and include a special performance by Bell Biv Devoe, and music by DJ M.O.S. The evening will also include a special presentation to the recipients of the 2015 Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship, graduates of the Rush Teens program. Star Jones, and Loren and JR Ridinger will serve as Honorary Chairs. Artfully crafted concoctions created by Art For Life Gold Sponsor BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin in honor of the 20th Anniversary will be served throughout the evening. This year’s benefit is also supported by Silver Sponsor Merrill Lynch.
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- Aoki Lee Simmons, Russell Simmons and Ming Lee Simmons. Photo Credit: Getty Images
- Bell Biv DeVoe. Photo Credit: Getty Images
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- Russell Simmons and Dave Chappelle. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Past honorees and supporters have included Michael R. Bloomberg, Kimora Lee Simmons, Tyler Perry, Nick Cannon, Mariah Carey, Grant & Tamia Hill, Mary J. Blige, Edward Norton, Tamara Mellon, Oprah, President Bill Clinton, Will Smith, Deepak Chopra, Martha Stewart, Kelly Ripa, Ruby Dee, Donald Trump, Jamie Foxx, LA & Erica Reid, Swizz Beats, Vanessa Williams, Christy Turlington Burns, Patrice & Precious Motsepe of African Rainbow Minerals, Serena Williams, Kerry Washington, Rachel Roy, Tim Gunn, Forest Whitaker, Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, Donna Karan, Susan Sarandon, Magic Johnson, Shepard Fairey, Alec Baldwin, Anna Wintour, Jerry Seinfeld, Arianna Huffington, LL Cool J, Billy Joel, Jay-Z, Coldplay, Gayle King, Alicia Keys, Sean “Diddy” Combs, John Legend, Gordon Parks, and Tommy Hilfiger among others.
This year’s Art For Life will feature a coinciding Art For Life online auction via Charitybuzz launching on July 9th, to support and bid please visit charitybuzz.com/artforlife. In addition there will a preview of the Art For Life Art Auction, set for December 2nd during Art Week Miami, on display at the benefit including works by 2015 Featured Artist Wangechi Mutu, 2009 AFL Featured Artist Shepard Fairey, 2006 Featured Artist Kehinde Wiley and many more!
Proceeds from ART FOR LIFE benefit the Foundation’s signature arts education and gallery programs, which over the past 20 years have directly served over tens of thousands of inner-city youth.
For additional information or to purchase tickets for 2015 ART FOR LIFE, visit www.rushphilanthropic.org/artforlife.
About Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation
Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation (RPAF) is dedicated to providing inner city youth across New York City with significant exposure to the arts, as well as to supporting emerging artists with exhibition opportunities.
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 the disenfranchised and people of color faced in both accessing the arts and exhibition opportunities.
Over the past 20 years with the help of a broad base of friends, collaborators and supporters, Rush has been able to develop it’s main two program areas – Rush Education art programs for our youth and Rush Arts Galleries supporting and featuring emerging artists nationwide – working together in a seamless way to open up the arts to populations facing hurdles to the joy and benefits of these experiences. Designed to inspire students, provide positive alternatives to high-risk behaviors and support increased academic performance, Rush Education programs- Rush Little Kids, Rush Kids, Rush Teens and Rush Galleries in Schools– directly serve over 3,000 students annually. In addition, each year through our Rush Arts Galleries- Rush Arts Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan and Corridor Gallery in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn- exhibit the work of over 100 emerging and community-based artists; welcomes over 10,000 gallery visitors; and provides unique opportunities for young people interested in careers in the arts.
Art saves lives, it is that simple. Rush Philanthropic believes that if you give young people the opportunity to practice and appreciate art — whether poetry, music, dance, or the visual arts — then you will see lives transformed as young people learn to value their own unique voices and visions. It is this type of impact we aspire to see happen and that your support will make possible.
Twitter @rush_art
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RushPhilanthropicArtsFoundation,
Instagram @rush_arts
ART FOR LIFE hashtag #ArtForLife
20th Anniversary hashtag #RPAF20
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