Newtown's 'Light The Night Pink' Fundraiser Puts Main St. Over The Top

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA ? The Newtown business community not only turned the town pink on Oct. 12, they made the single largest donation ever to Main St., a nonprofit devoted to supporting breast cancer patients in Bucks County.

During a block party fundraiser that featured the crowning of the first-ever Mr. Bucks County, the community raised upwards of $70,000 for the nonprofit, which supports breast cancer patients at Fox Chase Cancer Center Buckingham, Grand View Health, Doylestown Health, and the Kin Wellness and Support Center through programs such as food assistance, cold capping, integrative services, counseling and therapy, out-of-pocket expenses, treatment transportation, comfort bags and treatment center support and improvements.

During the special evening, 12 contestants, including a restaurant owner, a developer, the mayor of Newtown, a police sergeant, an attorney, and the executive director of the historic Newtown Theatre, took a walk down a pink carpet on South State Street where they showcased the latest in men?s formal wear from Giovanni?s Fine Fashions.

The men?s fashion show culminated nearly three months of fundraising by the contestants and the crowning of Mr. Bucks County, the contestant who raised the most money for the cause by encouraging friends and family to vote for them online by making a donation.

After introducing the 12 contestants to the town, Giovanni?s owner Gina Santoro, who came up with the idea of the contest, joined Mark Gatta from Opus Elite Real Estate and Superstar Lender Chadd Levine in announcing the winner from the porch shared by Opus Elite and Giovanni?s.

?This has been a fight to the finish,? said Gatta.

?I would say the past 48 hours decided this contest,? added Santoro.

Nick Fifis, the owner and executive chef at Erini?s Restaurant in Ewing, New Jersey, and Newtown Borough Police Sgt. Sean Orr raised more than $33,000 for breast cancer patients.

With just $1,398 separating first and second place, Newtown Borough Police Sgt. Sean Orr managed to edge out Nick Fifis, the owner and executive chef at Erini?s Restaurant in Ewing, New Jersey.

Orr raised the most at $17,387 while Erni came in second with an amazing $15,980.

Orr was presented with a crown and a pink bow tie for winning the contest. He?ll also get a shopping spree at the men?s clothing store.

?It?s really unbelievable,? said Orr afterward. ?It?s really humbling that so many people donated and supported me. When they first asked me to do this and told me I had a $1,000 minimum, I was like how am I going to raise $1,000? I turn around now and it?s $18,000. It?s insane the hearts that people have. And best of all, it?s for a great cause.?

The other contestants included: Joe Gatta, the creative director of a marketing company; Bernie Sauer, a local builder; Nick O?Hay, the bar manager at the Green Parrot in Newtown; Ryan Flaville, the owner of Ryan Pub in Northeast Philadelphia; Newtown Borough Mayor John Burke; Eric Poe, the owner of CURE Auto Insurance; Andy Smith, the executive director of the Newtown Theatre; Matt Arlen, of Ned?s Cigars; Chris Munz, owner of Munz Construction; and Newtown Borough attorney Andrew Neville.

The contestants for Mr. Bucks County. (Photo provided by Gina Santoro)

Matt Arlen, of Ned?s Cigars, wearing his Hunter's vest (not provided by Giovanni's) on the pink carpet.

The 'Stash of State Street,' Newtown Borough attorney Andrew Neville.

Nick O?Hay, the bar manager at the Green Parrot in Newtown, and his son show their Phillies pride during the fashion show.

In addition to the fashion show, the business owners compiled a calendar spotlighting each of the 12 contestants in a series of humorous photos captured by photographer Joe Dantone. The calendars were sold at the block party for $20 each and are also available through Giovanni?s.

The block party also included Ardana Pizza and Newtown Water Ice, which donated proceeds from the evening to Main St. The evening also included thousands of dollars raised from raffle prizes and gift baskets.

?The money Newtown raised tonight through Light the Night Pink and the Mr. Bucks County competition is the single largest donation ever made to our non-profit Main St.," said Main St. founder Keith Fenimore. "This money will help put us over the $500,000 mark. We are eternally grateful to the retailers and local entrepreneurs in Newtown who spearheaded this entire event. They are doing wonders for our local breast cancer community through their support of Main St.?

After her initial request to hang sponsorship banners on South Street was turned down by the borough council, Santoro had to quickly come up with a new fundraising idea. As she batted around a few ideas with friends out on the sidewalk, she hit on the idea of the Mr. Bucks County contest.

The idea took off from there quickly gaining the support of the Newtown community, which embraced the idea and the cause.

?We exceeded all expectations,? said Santoro, who led the fundraiser from start to finish.

?It was an amazing night. The backdrop, the people, the contestants, the music, the pink carpet. It was an electric atmosphere," she said. "I hope everyone enjoyed it and fed off of it like we did.

?Thank you. Thank you. Thank you,? she said to the contestants and to people who donated and came out to the block party. ?This is not possible without them.?

The crew from 4Ever Young was out in support of the block party.