Academy Award Winning Actor J.K. Simmons To Headline Fundraiser To Benefit Neighborhood Service Organization, April 6

    DETROIT, MI, April 04, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Academy Award winner and Detroit native J.K. Simmons will headline an intimate fundraiser that will raise awareness for and benefit Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at MotorCity Casino Hotel-Sound Board (2901 Grand River Avenue). Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Donations are $50 per person and seating is limited to the first 150 registrants. The lifelong Detroit Tigers fan will be in town to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the team's home opener that afternoon.

The fundraiser was originated by Simmons, who hand selected NSO as a nonprofit beneficiary during his brief visit in Detroit. Simmons has philanthropic ties to NSO, which has provided life-changing and supportive programs to positively impact the lives of the community's most vulnerable neighbors for 60 years. It will begin with introductions by NSO President and CEO Sheilah P. Clay and Board Chairman Ray C. Johnson. Simmons will follow up his remarks with a Q&A session and a meet-and-greet with audience members. WDIV-TV Morning News anchor Rhonda Walker will serve as the event moderator.

"NSO is very pleased that J.K. Simmons wanted to expand his long-term support of our organization while he was visiting Detroit," said Clay. "This gives his metro Detroit fans and aspiring actors the opportunity to meet our own homegrown, award-winning actor and also learn more about NSO."

Born in Detroit in 1955, J.K. Simmons studied voice and composition before working for years as a stage actor, eventually making his way to Broadway. He turned to TV and film as well, with a wide range of roles in projects like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Gift, Spider-Man, Juno and Up in the Air.

Having already been honored with a slew of critics' awards, in 2015 he earned a Golden Globe and an Academy Award in the category of supporting actor for his role as harsh jazz bandleader Terence Fletcher in the 2014 film Whiplash.

In the film For the Love of the Game, Simmons played the role of Detroit Tigers' manager Frank Perry.

NSO offers homeless recovery and mental health services, addiction treatment, early childhood education, youth programs, crisis intervention and suicide prevention to individuals and families in Wayne and Oakland counties. NSO is proud to call the historic Bell Building its headquarters and home for 155 formerly homeless individuals.

To purchase tickets to the J.K. Simmons meet-and-greet fundraiser to benefit NSO visit
http://www.nso-mi.org and click on the link provided on the home page.

For individuals wishing to make a contribution to the 60-year-old NSO or schedule a tour of the NSO Bell Building can visit http://www.nso-mi.org/donate.php or contact Denise Figurski at 313-961-4890 ext. 1069 or [email protected].

The meet-and-greet with J.K. Simmons fundraiser is sponsored by MotorCity Casino Hotel.

About Neighborhood Service Organization
Since 1955, Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) has been reaching out to people across metropolitan Detroit by strengthening and empowering neighborhoods, supporting families and helping people in need. Over the years, the scope and variety of services offered have grown into a network of sophisticated, vertically integrated programs that have received local, statewide and national recognition. For more information about NSO, visit http://www.nso-mi.org.

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