Τhe 13th Annual Art for Life Gala with Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon on Saturday July 28th, at Russell Simmons’ East Hampton Home was an amazing charity event as well as a party with glamorous celebs! The rain didn’t put a damper on this year’s event which raised over $1.9 million…and still counting!! Guests of the evening included Soledad O’Brien, Star Jones, Grant and Tamia Hill, Salt – n – Pepa, Anita Baker, Melanie Fiona, Michael Williams, Jill Zarin and more. This year, guests were asked to dawn summer’s hottest hues – Rush Orange, aqua blue, chartreuse, and fuchsia – to reflect this year’s “Living in Color” gala theme. Stunning Mariah Carey surprised guests when she arrived on stage with her husband wearing a fuchsia Cavalli dress to tie back to the evening’s theme. She and Nick were honored for their work with the arts and were presented with artwork pieces made by Rush Kids, and inspired by the work of artist Kehinde Wiley.
Proceeds from ART FOR LIFE benefit the Foundation’s signature arts education and gallery programs, which directly serve over 2,300 students each year. Founded in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is dedicated to providing inner-city youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, as well as providing exhibition opportunities to under-represented artists and artists of color. This year’s Art For Life was sponsored by Bombay Sapphire. This year’s benefit honored recording artists Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon, Betsy Z. Cohen (Bancorp Inc.), Tamia and Grant Hill (The Grant Hill Foundation), and Marc J. Leder (Sun Capital Partners Inc.). For more information, visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.
