Community Corner

Joe Piscopo to Headline Princeton Fundraiser for Cancer on Friday

Nearly a dozen friends from Lambertville have organized a local fundraiser to benefit the V Foundation, in honor of a friend who died from throat cancer last year.

 

Are you looking for a fun Friday night out and a way to give back at the same time? 

Head to the grand ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Princeton on Friday night for an evening of celebrity entertainment, good food and dancing. 

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Nearly a dozen friends from Lambertville have organized a local fundraiser to benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research, in honor of a friend who died from throat cancer last year. 

"It's a big party," said Mike O'Gorman, one of the event organizers. "It's going to be a lot of fun with people who really care." 

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The group of friends hope to make this an annual event. Last year they held a smaller fundraiser at The Stockton Inn and raised about $5,000, O'Gorman said. This year they hope to attract between 1,000 and 1,500 people and raise upwards of $100,000. After expenses (food, room rental), all the money will go directly to The V Foundation. 

"The great part of The V Foundation is that ESPN and other donors set up an endowment for administrative costs," O'Gorman said. "So every dollar that they get goes to research."

The V Foundation honors legendary basketball coach Jim Valvano, a Rutgers graduate, Iona College coach and coach to the 1983 NCAA Champions North Carolina State University Wolfpacks. He died of bone cancer in 1993 at age 47.

Friday's event which will run from 7 p.m. to midnight, featuring Saturday Night Live alum Joe Piscopo as the master of ceremonies, plus appearances by New York Giant (and cancer survivor) Mark Herzlich, former New York Giant (and two-time Superbowl Champion and three-time Pro Bowl Winner) Leonard Marshall and actor, radio personality and former detective Bo Dietl. Local bands Gyrlband and Phase 3 will both perform, including original and cover songs. 

All of the entertainers donated their time, O'Gorman said. 

Tickets are $55 each and may be purchased online or at the door (cash or check accepted). There will be a cash bar. 

"We just really want people to come out and enjoy themselves," O'Gorman said. "Our buddy was all about having fun, so we're going to have a great time. He wouldn't want it any other way."


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