KIMORA LEE SIMMONS ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION SCHOLARSHIP FUND

KLS (1)October 21, 2014, New York – Designer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Kimora Lee Simmons announced today at a press conference held at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York that she has established a $1 million scholarship fund that will be dispersed in partnership with the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year. The Kimora Lee Simmons Scholarship Fund will benefit and inspire the next generation of designers, artists and fashion industry leaders. The fund will be distributed to three educational organizations in New York and Los Angeles, including the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) and Rush Teens, with the most significant gift being given to FIT.

“Fashion has been at the core of my creative life for more than 25 years and I am thrilled to be able to provide similar opportunities for the next generation of designers, executives, and artists,” said Kimora Lee Simmons.

The gift to FIT will underwrite scholarships for students across various disciplines and support them in their quest for higher education and creative careers. The program will also include the opportunity to intern with KLS Kimora Lee Simmons in New York City.

We are deeply grateful to Mrs. Simmons for her generosity,” said FIT President, Dr. Joyce F. Brown. “With the exceptional scholarship fund she has established at FIT—a public college—she has demonstrated her recognition of the need to identify and support those young people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to develop their creative talents. I thank her on behalf of the college—and all of the students who will benefit from this gift.

By establishing this fund, Kimora Lee Simmons aims to recognize the aspiring talents of today who have demonstrated promise in the areas of art and design and a commitment to community service.