Russell and Danny Simmons Raise $1.4 Million for Under Privileged Youth

Russell Simmons and his brother Danny helped raise $1.4 million for underprivileged New York area youth this past weekend during their Eighth Annual "Art For Life Not So Mellow Yellow” East Hampton fundraising gala. The star-studded event, which took place on Saturday (July 28) at Russell’s East Hampton, Long Island home, was organized by the brothers’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. Attendees included Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, model Petra Nemacova, rapper Chamillionaire and music executive Antonio “L.A.” Reid. Gala sponsor Land Rover provided one of their luxury vehicles for auction, and the evening’s Rush Kids Live Auction allowed attendees to sponsor individual New York City youth for one year of arts education. H3 Enterprises, headed by CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis, generously donated one million shares of the company, valued at over $170,000, to Rush Education. The funds raised will be used to support three specific youth arts programs in the New York area, Friends of Island Academy, THE POINT and Working Playground, as well as Rush Philanthropic’s own education programs. Proceeds will also help launch Rush East New York, an arts oasis the foundation is opening later this year in Brooklyn, and help support Rush Arts Gallery exhibitions showcasing works by emerging artists of color.