NEWTOWN, PA — What began as a local idea to bring businesses, residents and friends together in the fight against breast cancer has grown into one of Bucks County's most anticipated community events — and in its first five years, Light the Night Pink and the Mr. Bucks County Competition have raised more than $325,000 to support local breast cancer patients and their families.
On Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., Newtown Borough will once again turn pink as Light the Night Pink and the Mr. Bucks County Competition take over State Street for an evening that combines fundraising, fashion, friendly competition and, most importantly, community.
The event is spearheaded by Gina-Maria Santoro, owner of Giovanni's Fine Fashions, through Newtown Gives Back in support of Main St., Bucks County's local breast cancer nonprofit.
What started as a fun and unconventional way to raise money has become something far greater.
"Every year I think I understand what this event means to our community, and then every year Bucks County shows us even more," said Santoro. "More than $325,000 is an incredible number, but what matters most is what that money represents — the rides to treatment, meals delivered to families, services that make treatment a little easier and financial help when someone needs it most. These are our neighbors we are helping."
For Santoro, the fight against breast cancer has always been personal.
She was just 13 years old when her mother's best friend — a woman she considered a second mother — lost her life to breast cancer. Three years later, Santoro's beloved aunt was diagnosed with the disease and also passed away.
Decades later, breast cancer would enter her life once again, this time even closer to home.
In 2024, Santoro's mother, Jil, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. After undergoing two lumpectomies and radiation treatment, she emerged a survivor.
Gina Maria-Santoro with her mom, Jil. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
"My mother is a survivor, and being able to say those words changes everything," Santoro said. "I know what it feels like to lose people to this disease, and now I know what it feels like to watch someone you love fight it. It makes our mission incredibly clear: we take care of our own."
That philosophy has become the heart of Mr. Bucks County.
Newtown Gives Back, in association with Main St. and Giovanni's Fine Fashions, will once again transform State Street into a celebration of the Bucks County breast cancer community.
Twelve Bucks County men, each representing a month of the year, are spending the months leading up to the event competing to raise money for Main St. On Thursday, they will come together for the culmination of their fundraising efforts and compete for the title of Mr. Bucks County 2027.
The contestants will walk the pink carpet wearing formal attire from Giovanni's Fine Fashions and will be escorted by breast cancer survivors and thrivers — a tradition that has become one of the most meaningful moments of the evening.
At the end of the night, one contestant will be crowned Mr. Bucks County 2027, but Santoro is quick to point out that the crown has never really been the point.
Main St. Missions of Bucks County turned Newtown pink for the month of October. (Jeff Werner/Patch)
"They are competitive — and believe me, they want that crown," Santoro said. "But underneath all of the fun, these men understand exactly why they are doing this. They are using their businesses, their friendships, their customers and their voices to help people in their own community. Every one of them wins the moment they decide to be part of this."
Light the Night Pink will also feature music, food trucks, raffles, local businesses, sip-and-shops and activities throughout State Street. Admission is free and open to the public.
"This event really epitomizes the mission and the success of Main St.," said Keith Fenimore, Founder and Executive Director of Main St. "When our family-run nonprofit set out to collaborate with Bucks County residents and businesses to impact our local breast cancer community, we envisioned a time when we'd find people like Gina who take ownership and lead their community. This clever event — incorporating a friendly competition and a town-wide block party — is one of the highlights of our entire year."
While Santoro may be the driving force behind the event, she is the first to say that its success belongs to the people who have stepped up year after year to help make it happen.
Among them is Mary Anne Bellacima, the event's volunteer coordinator, who has been part of Light the Night Pink and Mr. Bucks County from the very beginning. A Bucks County resident with no business affiliation or personal stake in the event, Bellacima volunteers simply because she believes in the cause and in helping people in her community. She coordinates the army of volunteers it takes to bring the event to life and has become an invaluable part of the organization.
"Marianne has been with us since day one," Santoro said. "She doesn't own a business. She isn't doing this for recognition or because there's something in it for her. She does it because she has an enormous heart and genuinely wants to help. People like Mary Anne are what this entire event is supposed to be about."
(Jeff Werner/Patch)
And then there is Matt Arlen, owner of Ned's Cigars in Newtown Borough, whom Santoro describes simply as her "right hand" throughout the entire process.
From logistics and problem-solving to the countless details that arise when coordinating an event of this size in the middle of Newtown, Arlen is the person Santoro relies on to help turn logistical ideas into reality.
"If you want something to happen in Newtown, Matt is the guy you go to," Santoro said. "There is no job too big, too small or too ridiculous. I come up with the ideas, and somehow Matt figures out how we're actually going to pull them off. I truly could not do this without him."
Beyond Bellacima and Arlen is an entire community of Newtown Borough businesses, sponsors, donors and volunteers who contribute countless hours, products, services and financial support each year to make both the Mr. Bucks County Competition and Light the Night Pink possible.
"The number on the check gets bigger every year, but that doesn't happen because of one person," Santoro said. "It happens because hundreds of people decide that they are going to contribute something—a raffle item, a sponsorship, their time, their talent, $20 to a contestant or simply showing up on State Street. When you put all of those acts of generosity together, suddenly you have raised more than $325,000 between The Mr. Bucks County Competition and the Light the Night Pink Event. That is the power of community."
For a few months each year, what begins as a fundraiser becomes nearly a full-time job for the people behind it. But for Santoro and the team, the payoff comes when State Street fills with people dressed in pink and the community comes together for families facing breast cancer.
"You stand there that night, look around at what this community has created together, and remember exactly why you do it," Santoro said. "None of this happens because of one person. It happens because Bucks County shows up."
(Jeff Werner/Patch)
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