Russell Simmons Celebrates 20 Years of Supporting Youth Art Programs in the Hamptons

With a “Roaring Twenties” theme, Art for Life — Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation’s annual charity benefit in the Hamptons, returned this year to honor comedian/actor Dave Chapelle, fine art auctioneer Simon de Pury, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and artist Wangechi Mutu.

Funds raised at Art For Life benefit the foundation’s arts education and gallery programs, which help over 3,000 inner-city youth every year. This year’s event, held at Fairview Farms in Bridgehampton, raised over $1.5 million to help establish and fortify art programs for inner city youth.

Rush Philanthropic is the brain child of brothers Russell and Danny Simmons, who started the organization 20 years ago with the goal of lifting inner-city youth out of poverty by offering them an artistic outlet.

Since its inception, Rush Philanthropic has grown steady, with Art For Life raising over a million dollars each year, and with other events also supporting the organization’s mission, including the Rush HeARTS Education luncheon and the Gold Rush Awards.

Among the top donations at this year’s Art For Life benefit included a $150,000 donation from Kimora Lee Simmons for RUSH teens. Rush Philanthropic will continue to accept donations through an online charity auction, which includes such items to bid on as the chance to take over Russell Simmons’ twitter account for a day ($15,000) or a Fender Squier Bullet Guitar signed by the members of Maroon 5 ($2,500).

The more than 900 attendees at Art For Life were also treated to live musical performances from R&B songstress Elle Varner and Bell Biv DeVoe, who took the audience back with performance of some of their hits, including “Poison” and “Do Me!”