Danny Simmons: The history of our nonprofit Rush Philanthropic is a family history, one of brothers helping one another to help those less fortunate than themselves.
One of my earliest memories was walking a picket line holding my fathers hand with Russell sitting on his shoulders for hours in the hot summer sun.
I was six and Russell two years old when we watched our father being arrested for laying down in protest in front of a moving bulldozer.
Russell Simmons: We learned the value of standing up for what you believe in from our parents. The three of us brothers (Danny, Joseph and I) were incredibly lucky to come from a background that encouraged creative expression.
It must've paid off. Our younger brother Joey became "Run" of the game-changing rap group Run-DMC, I became a painter, writer and arts advocate, and Russell became an entrepreneur who made hip hop and it's related industries household words. We were taught we had to give something back to those with less opportunity than we had.
After a couple of years of struggling but ultimately finding our footing with the foundation, Danny decided that the kids across the street in the projects in Chelsea where our gallery was weren't benefiting from all the culture growing and taking place on the other side of 10th Ave, so we went and got them and set up our own arts education program.
Now the top tier of contemporary artists have signed on to help us with this mission. Kara Walker, Chuck Close, David Salle, Donald Baechler, April Gornik, Jenny Holzer, Carrie Mae Weems and a host of others have donated artwork to help raise money for the cause through our charitybuzz Art for Life auction, in conjunction with our annual Art for Life Gala on July 30th. Countless celebrities with a social bent have also come on board, including Edward Norton, Justin Timberlake, Alec Baldwin and more.
Russell: Amen to that.
The RUSH Philanthropic Art for Life charity auction runs from July 13th to August 10th at luxury charity auction site charitybuzz. To make a bid to give, click HERE.
Follow Russell Simmons on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unclerush
So if taxes are raised, this organization will have less money.
Your upbringing sounds wonderful - and it shows.
Keep pushing it forward.
LIKE:
*The ridiculous HEAD IN YOUR B-T- WARS.--BILLIONS A WEEK FOR DOING NOTHING.
*TORTURE OS OK under Obama's watch,
*WARRANTLESS WIRETAPPING.
*UNEMPLOYMENT.
*ANEMIC HEALTH CARE.
*IMMIGRATION (More deportations under his watch.)
*TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH (Hey it doesn't matter, his buddies are fine, RIGHT RUSSELL??
*BONUSES TO BANKERS, (I mean what are a few billion to a few people..)
TO LYDIA: "Those who can ACT, those do can't just post empty falsehoods. "
These are not falsehoods. These are real issues. He just hasn't gotten to them. Stop being so blind. OR ARE YOU ALSO part of the club. Perhaps.
Comedy Gold!