Cyndi Lauper Honored at Russell Simmon's Rush HeARTS Luncheon

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is proud to celebrate the 4th Annual Rush HeARTS Education Luncheon by honoring Cyndi Lauper, Co-founder of the True Colors Fund; Charles Best, Founder & CEO, DonorsChoose.org; Craig Newmark, Founder, craigslist and craigconnects; and Guy Vickers, President, PVH Foundation for their careers and philanthropic achievements, and their unyielding dedication to our youth, arts and education initiatives. The luncheon will take place on Friday, March 11, in the Grand Ballroom at The Plaza Hotel. Hosted by actress Tamara Tunie, the event will also include special performances by Bobbi MacKenzie, and Chloe Flower.

The 4th-Annual Rush HeARTS Education Luncheon will raise funds for Rush's Education programs for New York City's inner city youth.� Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation programs (Rush Galleries in the Schools, and Rush Little Kids, Rush Kids and Rush Teens) are designed to inspire students, provide positive alternatives to high-risk behaviors, and support increased academic performance, by filling the void of arts education programs in public schools and through after-school and weekend sessions. Rush is proud of its success to date and looks toward a future in which its programs grow to encompass more children and artists, and continue to enhance access to arts institutions and arts experiences.

Founded in 1995 by brothers Russell, Danny and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons, Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is dedicated to providing inner-city youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, and to offering exhibition opportunities for emerging and underrepresented artists. Over the past 20 years, Rush has developed a broad base of friends, collaborators and supporters dedicated to supporting its mission. In addition to the 3,000 students served annually in its education programs, each year Rush exhibits the work of over 100 emerging and community-based artists in its galleries, and welcomes over 10,000 gallery visitors to its spaces in Chelsea, Manhattan (Rush Arts Gallery) and Clinton Hill, Brooklyn (Corridor Gallery).

Past Rush HeARTS honorees and supporters include Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Zac Posen, Patina Miller, Daymond John, Alek Wek, Cynthia Rowley & Bill Powers, CC & Amber Sabathia, Tamia, JP Morgan Chase, Kelly Rutherford, Tamara Tunie, Cynthia Nixon, Star Jones, Petra Nemcova, Lauren Bush, Tory Burch and Idris Elba. Kimora Lee Simmons will serve as Honorary Chair.

The Benefit Committee includes Carol Archer, Efva Attling, Allison Weiss Brady, Isolde Brielmaier, Sherry B. Bronfman, Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Jacquelyn Sherry Coombe and Patrick Coombe, Dee and Ricky, Tiana Webb Evans, Michelle Gadsden-Williams and David Jamal Williams, Daria Brit Greene, Kimberley Hatchett, Sara Herbert-Galloway, Coppy Holzman, Flaviana Matata, Tamara Mellon Obe, Brenda D. Neal, Camilla Olsson, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Schwanda Rountree, Josue Sejour, and Kehinde Wiley. The event is generously supported by PVH Foundation.

Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation (RPAF) is dedicated to providing inner city youth across New York City with significant exposure to the arts, as well as to supporting emerging artists with exhibition opportunities.

Rush was founded in 1995 by three brothers: Danny Simmons, visual artist and community builder; media mogul Russell Simmons; and Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons of the legendary hip-hop group Run-DMC. Their goal was to fill the gap that the disenfranchised and people of color faced in both accessing the arts and exhibition opportunities.

Over the past 20 years with the help of a broad base of friends, collaborators and supporters, Rush has been able to develop its main two program areas -- Rush Education art programs for our youth and Rush Arts Galleries supporting and featuring emerging artists nationwide -- working together in a seamless way to open up the arts to populations facing hurdles to the joy and benefits of these experiences.

Designed to inspire students, provide positive alternatives to high-risk behaviors and support increased academic performance, Rush Education programs -- Rush Little Kids, Rush Kids, Rush Teens and Rush Galleries in Schools -- directly serve over 3,000 students annually. In addition, each year through our Rush Arts Galleries- Rush Arts Gallery in Chelsea, Manhattan and Corridor Gallery in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn- exhibit the work of over 100 emerging and community-based artists; welcomes over 10,000 gallery visitors; and provides unique opportunities for young people interested in careers in the arts.

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.

For more information, visit www.rushphilanthropic.org.