Russell Simmons’ Celebrates 20 Years Of RUSH Philanthropic Art Foundation

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Russell Simmons and his daughters Aoki Lee and Ming Lee arrive asRUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Russell Simmons and his daughters Aoki Lee and Ming Lee

As the official kick off to the 6th Annual Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series program, Dave Chappelle helped celebrate this year’s benefit with a crowd of 900 supporters, 1920’s clad for the ‘Roaring 20s’-themed shindig. Raising nearly $1.2M and counting, proceeds from the evening will benefit the Foundation’s signature arts education and gallery programs, directly serving over 3,000 inner-city youth each year.

Guests of the ultra-exclusive, star-studded event enjoyed a mid-summer soiree to support the commendable efforts of Russell and Danny’s RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation. Always a scene to be seen, cameras flashed on the red carpet as A-list celebrities, music artists, models and high profile personalities including: American Grammy Nominated/Singer Songwriter Elle Varner, Gayle King, Director Ava DuVernay (Selma), Bevy Smith (Fashion Queens), Angela Simmons, Jojo Simmons, and a host of others.  Check out  more images inside… 

As the cocktail hour transitioned to a luxe private dinner, Soledad O’Brien dazzled the crowd as the evening’s emcee where the event’s Honorary Chairs, Dave Chappelle, Michaela and Simon de Pury, Ava DuVernay and Featured Artist Wangechi Mutu were recognized for their career achievements and philanthropic work. During the program, Russell Simmons spoke about the importance of supporting young artists and creativity within their education and announced that Kimora Lee Simmons generously donated $150K for RUSH teens.

Her two daughters – Ming Lee Simmons and Aoki Lee Simmons – accepted the honor on their mother’s behalf and welcomed the inaugural class of scholarship recipients. After delivering poignant speeches speaking to their passion of art and the Foundation’s mission of engaging inner city youth through creativity, guests mingled and danced to the performances by Elle Varner, Bell Biv DeVoe and DJ M.O.S.to cap off the evening.

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Aoki Simmons, Russell Simmons Jr., Ming Lee Simmons and Vlad Charles attend as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Aoki Simmons, Russell Simmons Jr., Ming Lee Simmons and Vlad Charles

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  JoJo Simmons and Russell Simmons Jr. attend as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

JoJo Simmons and Russell Simmons Jr.

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Angela Simmons and Russell Simmons attend as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Angela and Russell Simmons

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Elle Varner and Russell Simmons attend as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Elle Varner and Russell Simmons

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Gayle King attends  as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Gayle King

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Soledad O'Brien attends  as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Soledad O’Brien

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18: Russell Simmons and Jaslene Gonzalez attend as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Russell Simmons and Jaslene Gonzalez

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18: Claire Summers attends  as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Claire Sulmers

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Bleona Qereti attends  as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Bleona Qereti

Inside The Party….

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  General view as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  General view at RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Dave Chappelle speaks on stage as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Soledad O'Brien, Russell Simons, Danny Simmons, Dave Chappelle, Wangechi Mutu, Simon de Pury, Ava DuVernay and Tangie Murray attend as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Dave Chappelle and  Gayle King attend as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Elle Varner attends  as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

Special performance by Elle Varner

WATER MILL, NY - JULY 18:  Elle Varner attends  as RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation Celebrates 20th Anniversary at Art For Life sponsored by Bombay Sapphire Gin at Fairview Farms on July 18, 2015 in Water Mill, New York.  (Photo by Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin)

 

Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Bombay Sapphire Gin

 

 

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4 thoughts on “Russell Simmons’ Celebrates 20 Years Of RUSH Philanthropic Art Foundation

  1. Tami, everyone looks great! I can’t believe how much Russell and Kimora’s children have grown. Time flies quickly

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