Page 21 - Arts Management Magazine Iss 1

Allin the
Family
Under all of his makeup as the front man of mega-supergroup
KISS, Gene Simmons is one of the most generous guys around.
Not only is he a philanthropist, he and his wife Shannon Tweed
Simmons, have instilled similar values in their adult children,
Nick and Sophie.
Gene was born in Israel where, after his dad left them, he and
his mom lived in a small apartment in virtual poverty. He viv-
idly recalls when he was 8 years old and bullets tore through
the windows landing in the walls of their home in the war-torn
country. Scraping by from the money his mother earned work-
ing at several jobs at once to put food on the table, one day a
package came. It was from CARE. They opened it feverishly
and were grateful for the necessities they received. More impor-
tantly to Gene was the fact that people were actually aware of
their situation and cared enough to think of them and send the
supplies. He vowed to himself at that time that when he made
it, he would always remember and help to take care of others
in need. He has indeed done that and more.
One of the beneficiaries of his generosity is Mending Kids, a non-
profit that provides free surgeries to children in need around
the world. From birth defects and deformities to life or death
open heart procedures, many hundreds of children have been
given a chance for a full life. Not only does the charity bring the Mending Kids gives sick kids life-saving surgical care while
surgeons, nurses and other staff, all of whom volunteer to per-
form the surgeries, Mending Kids brings the supplies necessary
to areas where they don’t exist. Another part of the missions is
to help the local medical staff and facilities to have necessary
supplies, equipment and knowledge to be able to continue the
care and perform similar procedures once they leave for long-
term impact.
Gene provides much more than funding. He gives his time and
talent just as openly to the kids, their families, fundraising ef-
forts, events, whenever the need arises and more – and never
has to be asked. He is on the front lines amidst his heavy sched-
ule of touring, running the KISS empire, and managing his
other holdings with his astute business acumen.
The apples do not fall far from the trees. Gene and Shannon
have taught by example that giving is receiving. Nick is very in-
volved with the charity as well. He spends time with the at-risk
kids, and volunteers regularly. A musician, he too has provided
entertainment to benefit the cause.
Sophie is passionate about the need for centers for abused
moms and their kids. She built Sophie’s House for that reason,
as a shelter for women and children to be protected and to pre-
pare to reenter society able to function financially and emo-
tionally. This is a special family. We got to know them as a unit
on their television series, “The Family Jewels” however we did
not know how deeply their concern and outpouring of support
goes. We don’t have to be rich and famous to be generous. As
Gene learned early on, what you give is not as important as
the fact that you care enough to devote whatever resources are
available in time and/or money, to others. ?
by Jo-Ann Geffen, President & CEO JAG
Entertainment, and author of Chicken Soup
for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song.
AMM CHARITY SPOTLIGHT - MENDING KIDS
advancing education and training towards medical self-suffi-
ciency in their communities. Work has been done, to date, in
57 countries, including the United States. Most of the surgeries
provided correct congenital heart defects, orthopedic abnor-
malities, severe scoliosis, urological defects, and facial deformities.
www.mendingkids.org
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