East Hampton - Always the quintessential bustling New Yorker, Russell Simmons recently joined forces with the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services (JBFCS), as the nonprofit organizations prepare to honor the business, fashion and philanthropy mogul at its Annual Spring Benefit, Made in New York. In anticipation of this honor, Simmons, along with Rabbi Marc Schneier with whom he co-founded Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU), spent the day touring two JBFCS facilities and meeting with adolescents that these institutions serve.

JBFCS continues to establish itself as a leading human services nonprofit organization, doing more for New Yorkers-in-need than ever before. Today, JBFCS serves over 65,000 New Yorkers through 175 community-based programs, residential facilities, and day-treatment centers; in fact, every night, over 1,000 individuals call a JBFCS residence home. For more than a century, the organization has been a trailblazer in treating social problems.

This April, Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services (JBFCS) will host its Annual Spring Benefit, Made in New York, honoring JBFCS Board of Trustees Chairman, John A Herrmann, JBFCS Vice President David F. Everett, and Simmons, Founder of Def Jam, Co-Founder of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU), and Creator of fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, American Classics.

Made in New York will be held at Guastavino's on April 21 in New York City with proceeds benefiting the JBFCS' 185 community-based programs, residential facilities, and day-treatment centers that annually serve over 65,000 New Yorkers-in-need of all faiths, races and cultures.

About JBFCS
JBFCS has been a trailblazer in treating social problems for more than a century. Today, JBFCS is one of the nation's largest and most respected nonprofit mental health and social service agencies — every night, over 1,000 individuals call a JBFCS residence home. The work of JBFCS is built upon a network of over 2,200 professionals, including social workers, licensed psychologists, and psychiatrists, as well as a cadre of clinical support personnel in continuing day treatment and residential treatment centers, and a corps of over 2,200 dedicated volunteers. JBFCS provides a comprehensive network of mental health and social services to promote well-being, resilience and self-sufficiency for individuals and families in need in the New York metropolitan area. As leaders in the field of human services, the JBFCS mission is clear — 175 social service programs - one mission - to get help to those who need it.

For more information go to www.jbfcs.org.