<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:10.5pt 0in;line-height:125%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">CLEVELAND (April 23,

2026) — </span></b><i><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">The Last Shop on Walnut</span></i><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">, a feature-length independent drama shot in Northeast Ohio that

explores family, grief, gentrification and courage, will enjoy its red carpet

world premiere on Thursday, May 14th at the Cedar-Lee Theatre in Cleveland

Heights. A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the <b>Charles

& Margaret Jones Endowed Scholarship Fund at College Now</b>, helping

academically qualified and financially eligible students pursue and complete

higher education.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:10.5pt 0in;line-height:125%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><i><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">The Last Shop on

Walnut</span></i><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif"> follows Marvin Statler <b>(Peter Lawson Jones)</b>, who has spent

years of self-confinement in the building he owns that houses both his lamp

store and the apartment above it in which he lives. As mounting debt,

neighborhood decline and gentrification threaten the survival of his shop, a

former love interest <b>(Kym Whitley)</b>

and the arrival of a mysterious young man force Marvin to confront both long</span>‑<span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">buried guilt about his relationship with his brother <b>(Donald Webber, Jr.)</b> and a terrifyingly

uncertain future.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:10.5pt 0in;line-height:125%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><i><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">Last Shop</span></i><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif"> stars Jones, a former Cuyahoga County Commissioner and state

representative, whose career spans film (<i>A

Man Called Otto, White Boy Rick),

television (Chicago Fire) and stage.

Also starring in the film are Cleveland-native Whitley, a three</span>‑<span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">time NAACP Image

Award winner, whose extensive television and film career includes roles in <i>Happy

Gilmore 2</i>, <i>Curb Your Enthusiasm</i> and <i>Next Friday</i>; and Webber, currently appearing on Broadway as Aaron Burr in <i>Hamilton</i>

and a member of the recurring cast of Apple TV+’s Emmy-Award winning series, <i>Severance.</i></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:10.5pt 0in;line-height:125%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">“<i>The Last Shop on Walnut</i> is a film that

explores complicated family, community and social dynamics firsthand,” said screenwriter/director

<b>Jason Richardson</b>. “It has been an honor to craft this screenplay and

bring it to life together with our talented cast and crew.”</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:10.5pt 0in;line-height:125%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif"> “What a privilege it is for me to be part of a

film that was so tenderly written, beautifully shot and exquisitely acted,”

reflected Jones, who established the endowed scholarship at College Now named

for his parents. “Audience, bring your sense of humor … and a box of tissues.”</span></p>

<h3 style="margin:12.3pt 0in;line-height:125%;break-after:avoid;font-size:14pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(47,84,150);font-weight:normal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:125%;font-family:Roboto,serif;color:windowtext">Event Details</span></b></h3>

<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:125%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">        

</span></span><b><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">5:30 p.m.</span></b><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif"> – VIP Reception (for sponsors and VIP ticket holders)</span><br>

<span style="font-family:Roboto,serif"> <i>The Wine

Spot, 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights</i></span></p>

<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:125%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">        

</span></span><b><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">6:30 p.m.</span></b><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif"> – Doors Open</span><br>

<span style="font-family:Roboto,serif"> <i>Cedar

Lee Theatre, 2163 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights</i></span></p>

<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in;line-height:125%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-family:Symbol">·<span style="font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-feature-settings:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:7pt;line-height:normal;font-family:"Times New Roman"">        

</span></span><b><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">7:30 p.m.</span></b><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif"> – Film screening begins. A post-premiere talkback with Richardson, Jones

and Whitley will occur immediately following the screening.</span></p>

<b><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Roboto,serif">Tickets, sponsorships

and donations may be purchased at </span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><a href="https://cngc.org/plj" style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue"><b><span style="font-family:Roboto,serif">cngc.org/PLJ</span></b></a></span><b><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Roboto,serif">.</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><br>

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