NYC KIDS CELEBRATE WITH RUSH PHILANTHROPIC AS THE STARS CAME OUT FOR HOLIDAY PARTY

I love the folks over at RUSH Philanthropic, they always have such great events and everyone over on that staff really has a heart for giving back.

Last night hundreds of at-risk New York City youth affiliated with Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation-supported programs had the time of their lives last night at Rush Philanthropic's Ninth Annual Youth Holiday Party sponsored by Target. It all happened at The Fillmore NY @ Irving Plaza. Dawn Richards of Danity Kane hosted the holiday party which included appearances by Russell Simmons, hip-hop artists Jim Jones and Teyana Taylor, JoJo Simmons (son of Reverend Run) of Run's House on MTV, BET's Alesha Renee, radio personality Egypt, America's Next Top Model Jaslene Gonzalez, TV hit "Heroes" Jamie Hecter, platinum selling singer/producer Ryan Leslie, Que from the group Day 26 on MTV's "Making The Band", Darrelle Revis from the New York Jets and many more.

The night was a huge success with special performances by Rush youth groups The Brooklyn Steppers, Multicultural Music Group and Urban Word and the Annual Rush Kid Dance Off, judged by The Retro Kids. DJ Envy spun the tunes as the kids screamed with delight as celebrity guests greeted the kids while they received raffle prizes such as the X Box 360 gaming system, Hasbro 'U Dance game signed by superstar Chris Brown, two MacBook computers, an Apple iPod, tickets to a Cavaliers v. Knicks game at Madison Square Garden and many more special gifts. The Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation is dedicated to providing disadvantaged urban youth with significant exposure and access to the arts, as well as providing exhibition opportunities to under-represented artists and artists of color.

(Thanks to Janice Torres @ JLM PR for the story and the fantastic photographers Mark Blackshear & Jerritt Clark for the photos.)