WATERVLIET, NY (WRGB) – The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CDTA)’s iconic pink bus is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its “Men Wear Pink” campaign, partnering with local businesses to support the American Cancer Society.
This year there will be two pink buses, one of which will be parked in the area of Ted’s Fish Fry in Watervliet on Monday morning.
The bus at Ted’s will start the restaurant’s week-long fundraiser. From Monday to Sunday, 10% of sales at all Ted’s locations will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
“We’re a family business. We’re in the community. It’s important to give back in a lot of ways,” Deanna DeBonis of Ted’s Fish Fry told CBS6. “But I think cancer in particular really hits everybody, unfortunately. Myself, my mother died of cancer. It’s affected them, a lot of our managers.”
Ted works with Men Wear Pink campaign ambassador Jon Fisher. He is one of more than two dozen local Men Wear Pink ambassadors working towards a common goal.
“It’s really affected everybody in some way, shape or form, and I just think the American Cancer Society is really awesome because you know your money is going to awareness, you know it’s going to help families, and you know it’s going to research to stop this,” DeBonis said.
Since Ted’s Fish Fry began participating in this partnership five years ago, DeBonis said they have been able to donate a total of more than $71,000. This year’s goal is $25,000.
But Ted’s Fish Fry is just one of many local entities working with CDTA and the American Cancer Society this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. CDTA has also partnered with Camelot Print & Copy, Harding Mazzotti, Onward Upliftment of Resolution Foundation Inc. and Lamar Advertising, according to the release. Their logos appear on a 40-foot pink bus.
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“We are proud to paint our buses pink again in October to show our support for breast cancer survivors,” CDTA CEO Frank Annciaro said. “Public transit reaches every corner of our community, and we’re using that visibility to raise awareness about breast cancer and the work of the American Cancer Society. Thank you to the CDTA employees who help transform these buses and get behind this important campaign.”
Last year, CDTA raised nearly $25,000 for the campaign, according to the release. Over the past ten years, CDTA has raised nearly $150,000 for the American Cancer Society.