Allison Weiss Brady’s The Life of a Social Scribe
Shareef Malnik and Tangie Murray
Shareef Malnik
AWB: What makes this Rush Philanthropic gala on Saturday night, March 14 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach one of the most anticipated South Florida events of the year?
Shareef: The Rush Philanthropic Art For Life event is truly a “who’s who” event attracting a diverse demographic of support with a common goal- benefiting local and national arts education programs.
This year we have amazing co-chairs including Alonzo and Tracy Mourning, Fred and Johnna Kleisner of Morgans Hotel Group, Jennifer and Michelle Rubell, and of course, you and your husband Chip Brady. Our host this year is Kim Kardashian. It’s going to be a fantastic event!
AWB: What is the most compelling reason you think people must attend the Rush gala on March 14?
Shareef: The compelling reason for attending is helping us promote arts education for kids and giving exposure and opportunities to artists who most need it. Art is medicine for the soul and the planet.
AWB: Is your restaurant The Forge involved in the event at all? If so, how?
Shareef: We are going to do an Art for Life follow up celebration on Sunday night, March 15 at Soul Kitchen at The Forge.
AWB: Since you have been in the South Florida scene for many years, how has the arts community changed and/or grown?
Shareef: One of the major catalysts in South Beach’s early evolution was the community of artists living here. Unfortunately, Miami Beach has become too expensive for most of them. On the other hand, we have progressed to the existence of Art Basel Miami Beach and Design Miami, the Art Expo, the satellite exhibitions of emerging artists at Art Basel, and a brand new state of the art Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.
Tangie Murray
AWB: Can you please tell me about some of the amazing live auction items?
Tangie Murray and Russell Simmons
Tangie: Gladly. This year we have a private tour and cocktail party for 30 at the Rubell Family Collection during the 30 AMERICANS exhibit, which features 200 works by contemporary African American artists and runs though May 30th. I mean, what an amazing opportunity for an art lover, or entertainer, to be able to soak up all that creativity and get up close and personal with such important works, at your very own party. We also have a diamond, emerald, and ruby encrusted strand of prayer beads from jeweler Tommy Turchin – it’s being auctioned off along with the opportunity to practice yoga with Russell Simmons in his private yoga studio at his Manhattan apartment. Really exciting packages that we think will raise a lot of money for arts education.
AWB: What are your views on the arts community in South Florida, and how do you think Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation might best be able to benefit local arts programs?
Tangie: Miami is a dynamic and creative cultural center – the arts community here has been at the forefront of much of its growth. Concerning the local programs, kids are kids wherever you go and the need to have the creative arts as part of their lives is essential for their personal development and self-esteem. It’s also important that our young people know there are people locally and across the country who support them and want to see them succeed. Through Art For Life Miami, we’re not only cheering them on, but giving them the resources so they can continue to practice creative self-expression.
AWB: I’ve heard that many auction items benefiting Rush Philanthropic are available for bidding on CharityBuzz.com? Can you talk about what items you have on CharityBuzz.com, how that bidding process works as it relates to the event, and up to what date the auction is online?
Tangie: We have some amazing items on Charity Buzz, including a dress worn by our host Kim Kardashian; concert tickets and a meet-and-greet with Kanye West; several luxury packages like stays at the Delano, Setai, Palms Las Vegas, Four Seasons Great Exuma and many more exciting destinations; and of course, artwork from our dear friend and supporter Francesco Clemente, as well as a portrait of Will Smith by celebrated Hollywood film industry photographer, Robert G. Zuckerman. All these items and more are available on CharityBuzz.com and will be up until March 24.
AWB: Can you talk about some South Florida non-profits that will be receiving grants from this event?
Tangie: Our three featured Miami-Dade youth beneficiaries are Arts for Learning, Miami Light Project, and enFAMILIA. They are all important organizations that help build self-esteem, develop art skills, and enrich the quality of life through education and the arts. Several other non-profits will also be receiving grants, including DASH (Design and Architecture Senior High School), Florida Film Institute, Honey Shine Mentoring Program, Project Witness, Playground Theater, and more.
AWB: What people or groups are being honored at the event?
Tangie: Jeffrey Soffer, Chairman of Fontainebleau Resorts, Johnny Furr accepting on behalf of Anheuser-Busch and the Rubell Family Collection are this year’s amazing honorees for all they have done to promote the arts and inspire others to give back. The event should be a great night; Kim Kardashian will be hosting and DJ Irie is back on the turntables and we have a big surprise announcement to make! We’re really looking forward to it and hope to see everyone there! We encourage those who haven’t purchased tickets yet to do so as we still have some available. Tickets are selling fast- so they should buy now.
Gala Information
Russell Simmons’ Art for Life Miami Beach
Benefiting Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation
Saturday, March 14th at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach
Starts: 6:30 p.m.
Attire: Miami Glam
Tickets start at $500
For ticket information, email artforlife@havenllc.com or phone 212-810-4490.
Press inquiries please contact aflmiami@forbespr.com.
