NBA CENTER NAZR MOHAMMED HOSTS ANNUAL FUNDRASIER TO SUPPORT PERSONAL FRIENDS AFFECTED BY CANCER

Giving back has always been a ‘way of life’ for NBA player, Nazr Mohammed. It is through the Nazr Mohammed Foundation (NMF) that he and his family have been able to support a variety of noteworthy causes through fundraisers, camps, grants and scholarships. On Friday, August 5th, Mohammed will host his annual gala titled FULL COURT PRESS AGAINST CANCER at Galleria Marchetti (825 W Erie) from 7:30PM-10:00PM in support of personal friends who have recently been affected by cancer.

The evening will feature casino gaming along with musical entertainment by DJ Toure, a silent auction, hosted bar, hors d’oeuvres, and dessert. A portion of proceeds will go to Different Shades of Pink (DSOP), an organization committed to serving the immediate needs of breast cancer fighter’s survivors and their families.

“This year cancer has hit close to home for me and my family by taking the life of one friend and directly effecting three people close to my heart,” explains Mohammed. “Having four friends diagnosed with four different types of cancer in a short period of time opened my eyes to the unpredictable nature of these diseases. I am hopeful that my friends will become survivors and beat their disease, but in the meantime, I will use my foundation to support them and organizations who are on the front lines helping individuals and families in their fight against cancer.”

A Chicago native and 18‐year NBA veteran, Mohammed returned to basketball this past March to join the Oklahoma City Thunder for an intense playoff season. He was a member of the 2005 NBA World Champion San Antonio Spurs, and has also played with the Philadelphia 76er’s, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Bobcats, and Chicago Bulls.

A proud graduate of Kenwood Academy in Hyde Park, Mohammed claims this is where he first developed his basketball talent and love for the game. He played college basketball for University of Kentucky winning championships in 1996 and 1998 before becoming a first‐round draft pick in 1998. In 2014, Mohammed was awarded “BULL OF THE YEAR” by the Comcast SportsNet ‘Sports Awards’ for his considerable contributions to his team, as well as the Chicago community.

The Nazr Mohammed Foundation (NMF) serves as a gateway to giving back to the community, helping improve Chicagoland schools and other educational initiatives.

Tickets for FULL COURT PRESS AGAINST CANCER are $200 per person for general admission, $300 for VIP (includes meet & greet reception, reserved gaming tables and gift bag) and $150 for the post-party (after 10:00 p.m.) and can be purchased at www.NazrMohammed.com.