Breast Cancer Fundraiser To "Light The Night Pink" In Newtown

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA —Newtown Borough is lighting the night pink for the month of October.

From one end of the business district to the other, the town’s period street lamps have been retrofitted with filters that have cast the street in a pink glow.

It’s to that backdrop that the town’s businesses are teaming up with Doylestown-based Pine2Pink to hold a "Light The Night Pink" fundraiser on South State Street to raise breast cancer awareness and funds.

Between 6 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 6 South State Street will be closed to traffic between Washington Avenue and Centre for the event, which will feature an evening of fundraising raffles and information booths focused on breast cancer research, treatment, recovery and prevention.

The retailer driven effort is being led by Giovanni’s Fine Fashions, Newtown Pro-Shop, Ned’s Cigar Shop and Countryside Gallery & Custom Framing.

Among the healthcare providers, organizations and businesses taking part will be Pine2Pink, the Fox Chase Cancer Center, the Rothman Institute, Ivory Ridge Rehab, Genesis Fitness, the First National Bank of Newtown and others.

Also in attendance will be Newtown’s emergency responders including the police department, fire department and the rescue squad in celebration of National Fire Prevention Month.

Another highlight of the evening will be a celebrity dunk tank.

“That could be very interesting. We have a person who has given me a verbal commitment. If they show it it could be a very interesting evening,” said Matthew Arlen, the manager at Ned's Cigars and the event's spokesperson. “Think national politics.”

Also joining the dunk tank lineup will be Ron Fesmire, the borough’s longtime public works contractor who recently announced his upcoming retirement.

“Ron’s just a pillar of this community,” said Arlen. “He’s the public works guy, but he’s so much more. He’s been doing it for so long and he’s always out there helping everybody. We really do owe him so much thanks for what he does.”

The evening also features live music by Mid Life Crisis, face painting, desserts by Nothing Bundt Cakes, pretzels, water, white chocolate pink ribbons and lots more.

Local businesses and organizations have all stepped forward to support the special evening including the Newtown Theatre, Burns Auto Repair, State Street Kitchen, Zebra-Striped Whale, the Newtown Hardware House, Giovanni’s, Lux and the Pro Shop among many others.

“Pine2Pink is a Bucks County organization founded to help Bucks County residents. This is about keeping it local and supporting members of the community not only here in Newtown Borough, but throughout Bucks County," said Arlen.

“And it’s a very worthwhile cause. We’ve all been touched by breast cancer in one way or another or cancer in general," he said. "My aunt Sandy battled breast cancer. She’s on the positive side of it now. And I fight for her.”

The driving force behind the special evening are Gina-Maria Santoro, the proprietor of Giovanni's Fine Fashions, and Kathleen McCafferty from the Pro Shop.

“The two of them are absolute rock stars. They are the brains and the driving force behind this whole thing,” said Arlen. “They made this whole thing happen last year and they are making it happen again this year. And I couldn’t be prouder of what the two of them have been able to
accomplish.”

Last year’s event raised close to $10,000. And this year, organizers are hoping to go above and beyond that level with sponsorships and the community's support.

“We have had absolutely stellar support from the borough council and the mayor, but also from the business community and from residents who have been extremely supportive,” said Arlen.

In conjunction with Pine2Pink, the Newtown Hardware House is selling pink strings of lights for anybody who wants to decorate their homes and businesses for the month of October.

“They have lights for anyone who wants to get involved,” said Arlen.