On Tuesday, May 14, Swizz Beatz and Bronx Charter School for the Arts held its annual art auction event at New York’s hotspot Marquee. The event commemorated the school’s tenth anniversary and celebrated its decade-long academic and artistic achievements. The evening brought out numerous VIPs, notables and celebrities, including Bilal, Adrienne Bailon, Sharon Carpenter (VH1’s The Gossip Game) and many others who supported the event. Swizz Beatz and guests helped raise over $200,000 for Bronx Arts’ arts and academic programs.
Highlights from the event included silent and live auctions featuring original artwork by Bronx Arts elementary student artists. Additional exciting items that were auctioned included a Napa Valley vacation package, autographed Adele sheet music, an autographed Michael Jackson CD, and much more.
Guests also enjoyed an evening of cocktails provided by CIROC Ultra Premium Vodka and horsd’oeuvres.
The main attraction for the night was a special live performance by chart-topping artist Melanie Fiona, who rocked the crowd and helped set the stage for a festive and lively affair.
Another highlight was Swizz Beatz’s impromptu live calls to some of his celebrity friends, as he put his phone on speaker and captured conversations via microphone. Three celebrity colleagues pledged large dollar donations that helped the school reach its fundraising goals.
Bronx native Swizz Beatz, in partnership with the Bronx Charter School for the Arts, served as the official host for the evening. An advocate for arts in education, Beatz is committed to assisting the school with achieving its fundraising objective to sustain the school’s crucial initiatives, which are vital to the success of the school and its students. The funding will support the school’s award-winning arts programs as well as academic, extended-day learning, and academic intervention programs (which provide additional support for struggling learners). These initiatives allow students to receive additional hours of instruction, as well as participate in a variety of arts and enrichment programs, such as the Bronx Arts Band and Dance Team.
photo credit by Bjorn Bolinder
