Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons, his brother Danny Simmons and Rush Philanthropic Arts helped raise over $575,000 dollars on Saturday (April 5) during their Art For Life Miami Beach fundraiser.
The exclusive fundraising event honoring Wyclef Jean, John Legend, financial expert Suze Orman and real estate developer R. Donahue Peebles.
The event, which took place at Peebles’ exclusive venue The Bath Club on Miami Beach, drew a number of celebrities, including Miami Heat players Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning, and Ricky Davis, NFL Player Larry Johnson; film director and Miami native Brett Ratner, Scott Stapp of Creed and his wife Jaclyn, designer Julian Chang, comedian Pauly Shore, Latin sensation Paulina Rubio and others.
In addition to a celebrity auction, a number of the guests pledged $1000 to sponsor a child to participate in the foundation’s arts education program for a year during the evening.
Bidders were awarded one gold balloon for each child sponsored. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt sponsored 5 Rush Kids in his honor; Dwyane Wade, Larry Johnson & Julissa Bermudez, and John Legend each sponsored 10 Rush Kids; as did Amber and Loren Ridinger, and event Honorary Chairman Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“With the recent government cuts in the arts education programs, this event was wonderful and very necessary to raise funds to support arts education projects in the Miami-Dade community,“ said Allison Weiss Brady, event Co-Chair, and Board Member, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.
A percentage of net proceeds for Art for Live Miami Beach will go back into the Miami Dade County via grants to art programs for disadvantaged youth.