Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation will celebrate their 20th Anniversary and 16th Annual ART FOR LIFE Hamptons Benefit Event on Saturday, July 18th. The event will be hosted by Soledad O'Brien with a performance from Bell Bive Devoe and music by DJ M.O.S. The Rush foundation, which was founded in 1995 by Danny Simmons, Russell Simmons, and Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons, is built on the celebration of the creative energy of inner city youth, honored for their success of work that betters their communities. ART FOR LIFE also provides New York City kids with the exposure to different art forms and supports artists that are emerging on the scene by giving them exhibition opportunities. This year's featured ART FOR LIFE artist is Wangechi Mutu; a Kenyan born artist who has created her work in New York for almost twenty years.

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"Sniffing" by Wangechi Mutu

This "Roaring Twenties" cocktail themed event will be attended by over 800 elite guests such as Emily & Harold Ford Jr., Tommy & Dee Hilfiger and Angella Forbes for Forbes Public Relations. Sponsors for the event include Bombay Sapphire, Hamptons Magazine and Merrill Lynch. Honorees of the event are Dave Chappelle, Ava DuVernay and Michaela & Simon de Puray. An auction will take place that includes art work by Wangechi Mutu and fruit trees by Plant O Gram. Also, those in attendance will receive gift bags that include items from each sponsor of the event and gift cards from PlantOGram, that were made especially for the ART FOR LIFE Benefit Event guests.

[caption id="attachment_708" align="alignnone" width="338"]Gift Cards Being used for Russell Simmons RUSH PHILANTHROPIC ARTS FOUNDATION'S Actual Gift Cards Being Used For Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation[/caption]

“Art saves lives, it is that simple. Rush Philanthropic believes that if you give young people the opportunity to practice and appreciate art — whether poetry, music, dance, or the visual arts — then you will see lives transformed as young people learn to value their own unique voices and visions. It is this type of impact we aspire to see happen and that your support will make possible,” said in a statement released by the organization.