Hello darlings, welcome back to Cognac’s Corner Magazine

Russell and Danny Simmons present an award to Honoree Academy Award Winning Actor Forest Whitaker at the Art For Life Event in East Hampton

Hip-Hop Mogul Russell Simmons and Danny Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation (RPAF) raised a whopping 1.4 million dollars on Saturday, July 28th at their Eighth Annual “ART FOR LIFE” Not So Mellow Yellow East Hampton fundraising gala to benefit the organization. Russell Simmons has been instrumental in bringing Hip-Hop to every facet of business and media since its inception in the late 1970’s. The organizations supports under served New York City youth through arts education. The star studded sold out event and one of the hottest summer tickets, held at Russell Simmons’ East Hampton home, welcomed close to 900 leaders from the entertainment, arts, business, and philanthropic communities. Land Rover was this years Platinum level sponsor contributing a special edition luxury Land Rover for live auction that was held during the evening. Ciroc Vodka was this year’s Silver Sponsor and HSBC Bank USA was this year’s Valet Sponsor.

Academy Award Winning Actor Forest Whitaker, Keisha Whitaker and Hip-Hop Mogul Russell Simmons

Keisha Whitaker wearing a dress designed by Fashion Designer Rachel Roy at the Art for Life Event in East Hampton

“I’m always inspired by the generosity of the Hamptons community,” announced Russell Simmons, founder and Chairman of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation. “Because of this community’s grace, many young people will imagine themselves out of what may seem to be unbelievably difficult conditions. Art education saves lives and transforms communities and countries, and the cultivation of creativity is the most important kind of education.”

Sandy Lomax and Kevin Liles at the Art For Life Event in East Hampton

 

The Simmons’ East Hampton palatial estate was transformed by David Beahm of David Beahm Designs and showcased butterflies, spinning sunflowers, luminous lighting, golden tablecloths and lavish centerpieces. Movie stars and celebrities sipped tasty cocktails and sample Ciroc’s new vodka champagne, Nuvo, as they swayed to the soul music of DJ M.O.S and perused live and silent auction items like platinum sponsor Land Rover’s 20th anniversary limited edition Range Rover; the “Eighth Wonder of The World,” a luxurious 11-day all expense paid trip to South Africa; and the Victoria Secret Fashion Show Weekend in Los Angeles.

Movie star Ally Sheedy, Russell Simmons and daughter Aoki Lee Simmons

Event honorees Forest Whitaker with wife Keisha, Alvin Ailey’s Judith Jamison, The Brooklyn Academy of Music executives, Karen Brooks Hopkins and Joseph V. Melillo, entrepreneur Tracy Maitland and Unifund’s David Rosenberg hobnobbed with guests Rev. Run and family from MTV’s “Run’s House”, Petra Nemcova, Lyor Cohen,  Antonio “L.A.” Reid, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Kevin Liles, Chamillionaire, Cathy Hughes, Ally Sheedy, Nia Long, Deborah Cox, Rocco Dispirito, author Terry McMillan, and artists  Kehinde Wiley, Victor Mathews and others.

Anna Wilding

“We didn’t have arts education or drama at my school and it was a teacher who introduced me to that world,” explained Forest Whitaker when presented with his award by Danny Simmons and Russell Simmons. “The work Rush Philanthropic is doing is so important because they are exposing kids just like I was to these great opportunities which can change a child’s life.”

Chyna Lindsay and Cognac Wellerlane

As an addition to the night’s festivities a special wardrobe was designed in honor of this year’s color theme “Not So Mellow Yellow,” and fashion and accessories designers came on board contributing splashes of yellow from their personal collections. Designers Rachel Roy, Catherine Malandrino, B Michael, Giuseppe Zanotti and Lorraine Schwartz were some of the fashion designers who gave gorgeous pieces to the event’s luxury auction.

Fashion Designer b michael at the Art for llife Event in East Hampton

Fashion Designer b michael and Mark Anthony

Returning in full force again this year was one of Rush Philanthropic’s Community Grants Recipients, the Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band, who kicked off the program, entertaining attendees at the close of the cocktail hour with a triumphant performance of Rihanna’s newest hit song “Umbrella”. World-renowned Simon de Pury, chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company, added excitement as the gala’s auctioneer.

Olympic Gold Medalist Angelo Taylor at the Art for Life Event in East Hampton

One of the most significant parts of the evening,The Rush Kids Live Auction allowed patrons to sponsor New York city youth for one year of arts education through Rush’s educations programs. Each child was represented by one yellow balloon going for $1,000. Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of H3 Enterprises, Inc. (”HTRE”), the first publicly traded hip-hop company, as well as President/CEO of HSAN (Hip Hop Summit Action Network), made a special donation on behalf of H3. “As we prepare to raise money for the Rush Kids program, I’m pleased to make this announcement,” Simmons stated. “I’d like to ask Dr. Benjamin Chavis to please stand up.  He, on behalf of H3 Entertainment, Inc., has generously donated one million shares of company stock to Rush Education, valued today at $170,000.” The Rush Kids program raised $66,000 in addition to the in kind donation of the H3 shares.

Russell Simmons with daughters Aoki Lee and Ming Lee at the Art For Life Event 

During our interview on the red carpet Danny Simmons revealed the organization is currently in a fundraising campaign for an 11,000 square-foot arts education and resource center it will open next year in East New York, Brooklyn. The building was a gift from Ron Hershco of United Homes. This year’s theme for the event was “Not So Mellow Yellow” introducing a fabulous Yellow Wardrobe for the luxury silent auction. Clothing designers Rachel Roy, Catherine Malandrino and b michael, jewelry designers to the stars Lorraine Schwartz, Jeri Cohen and Ana Reign, shoe designer Guiseppe Zanotti, among other top fashion designers, have signed on, each donating a special yellow item for the auction. I had the chance to interview both Fashion Designers b. michael and Edwing D’Angelo who has designed for legendary R&B Singer Patti LaBelle. Another famous Hollywood star that attended the event was 80’s movie star Ally Sheedy. I inquired “Ally how did you find out about this event and what was your favorite 80’s flick that you starred in?” “I was invited by Russell and I went to College with Forest Whitaker who is receiving an award tonight so I wanted to be part of that and my favorite flick is the Breakfast Club.” The highlight of the evening was when I interviewed honoree and Academy Award winning actor Forest Whitaker and his lovely wife Keisha and he expressed “The work Rush Philanthropic is doing is so important because they are exposing kids just like I was to these great opportunities which can change a child’s life.

Some of the other celebrities that attended were Olympic Gold Medalist Angelo Taylor, kevin Liles, Deborah Cox and Rocco Dispirito.

For more information please visit www.rushphilanthropic.org

Until my next celebrity event,
Pink Champagne Kisses
Cognac Wellerlane

 Viewed 2012 times by 1081 viewers

 

This entry was posted on Monday, July 30th, 2007 at 6:30 pm and is filed under Celebrity News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.