Although we did not reach first place, we want to thank you all for supporting us in our quest for a $250K Pepsi Refresh Grant.
As a result of the contest, we have gained more recognition and support of our programs and endeavors to enrich the lives of young people through art.
Please continue to follow us on twitter @rush_art and on facebook at Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation | Facebook if you have not done so already !
Russell Simmons, Danny Simmons, Deepak Chopra, Swizz Beatz, Richie Akiva, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Maxwell and many more celebrate the 11th Annual ART FOR LIFE East Hampton benefit!
Saturday, July 24, 2010, East Hampton, NY- Brothers Russell, Danny, and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons celebrated Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation’s 11th Annual ART FOR LIFE East Hampton Benefit. The evening celebrated the creative energy of New York City youth and honored exemplary individuals in the community for their career achievements and philanthropic works. The star-studded fundraising event honored entrepreneur Richie Akiva, philanthropists Allison & Chip Brady, renowned author and lecturer Deepak Chopra and record producer Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean. Event Chairs included Mark Birnbaum of EMM Group Inc., Jamison Ernest of Yellow Fever and Robin Thicke & Paula Patton. The evening was hosted by actor Anthony Anderson with music by DJ M.O.S. Other guests of the evening included; Alicia Keys, John Legend, Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh, Maxwell, Joseph “Rev. Run”, Justine, Diggy and Russy Simmons, Jason Binn, Selita Ebanks, Donna Karan, Tracy Wilson Mourning, Kelly Bensimon, Carol Alt, Tommy and Thalia Mottola, Chris Lighty, and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
Launched in 2000, ART FOR LIFE East Hampton is Rush Philanthropic’s primary fundraising outreach to friends and supporters. The 2010 ART FOR LIFE East Hampton took on a whimsical and enchanting theme for A Night of Wonder! Summer white with a splash of color was the color scheme for the evening.
Proctor and Gambles Bounty continued its partnership with Rush Philanthropic as this year’s Platinum Sponsor, and the brand’s paper towels were featured in a paper mache sculpture garden at the ART FOR LIFE benefit. The garden featured animal sculptures created by the youth in Rush’s arts education program using Bounty paper towels. Other Sponsors included Silver Sponsors Bombay Sapphire and Target, Bronze Sponsor Sutka Productions International, Inc and Valet Sponsor HSBC Premier.
Funds raised through ART FOR LIFE provide support for Rush’s gallery programs for emerging and underrepresented artists, and its education programs that annually provide over 2300 youth with intensive visual arts education and includes fieldtrips to galleries, museums, artist studios and other nonprofits.
On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, the Rush Gallery in the School at PS 165 celebrated the opening of their latest creative adventure, Journey Within.
As the centerpiece for the exhibit, young artists from the Rush Gallery at PS 165 created a mural that explores the natural world of a Japanese Garden with a specific focus on the Cherry Blossom. Rush Director of Education Meridith McNeal and Rush Teaching Artist Jana Kennedy worked with students to create a three-dimensional mural-sized paper collage using delicate handmade Japanese rice paper. The exhibit also features other examples of Far Eastern Culture including handmade meditation pillows, mandalas, and small scale Japanese ink drawings.
Participating students were proud to introduce their work to attendees. Rush Philanthropic Board Member Lucille Blair spoke about the Rush programming and the opening saying, “It is one thing to chat and hear about these programs in the board meetings and pitch the idea to prospective donors but when you are in the midst of it and feel the energy and pride of the children as they discover all these unexpected pieces of themselves and the world through the art you have shared and taught them – well, it leaves one in awe. The work was fabulous! And one wishes every child in inner city communities could be a part of it. Thank you. It was wonderful. The kids were completely marvelous. Bryan (the student/docent who gave Ms. Blair her tour) was a delight!”. 
The day before the big opening, as part of the “Make A Clean Difference” program sponsored by Proctor and Gamble’s Bounty brand, students from the Rush Gallery at PS 165 gave a preview tour of Journey Within to Rush Philanthropic’s Chairman and Co-Founder, Russell Simmons. The Make a Clean Difference program invited volunteers from Hands On Network to spruce up the school, adding a fresh coat of paint to the courtyard and making sure the windows and desks were squeaky-clean, while the students were busy working on their mural. PS 165 is one of 30 sites that will participate in the national Make a Clean Difference.
