By Julia Train
Getting treated for cancer can be a financial burden and Toast Pink, a Margate-based nonprofit organization, knows that and wants to help those dealing with the high costs.
According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2019, the national patient economic burden associated with cancer care was $21.09 billion, made up of patient out-of-pocket costs of $16.22 billion and patient time costs of $4.87 billion.
As one of their multiple annual fundraisers, Toast Pink is hosting a Summer Dance Party at Josie Kelly’s in Somers Point on July 11 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Aria Mazer and Joseph Orazi co-founded the nonprofit in 2012 fueled by the experiences of people around them. For Mazer, it was her friends who had needed some help and Orazi’s daughter survived cancer.
“I had something [happen] to some friends a while back and just did a small fundraiser for them and handed them the money and that’s when I realized how much it meant to them,” Mazer told Shore Local in a November 2023 interview. “[Joe Orazi and his daughter] walked the walk and went through that struggle, so that was his inspiration.”
Now, the 501(c)(3) helps individuals and their families who have unpaid expenses, such as: medical, mortgage, rent, utility, insurance, or car bills. The organization even helps with paying for groceries or transportation to treatment.
Since its founding, Toast Pink has raised $125,000 for those in need and pays the companies on behalf of those they’re helping.
The nonprofit has a team of 10 volunteers who work to assist its applicants with affording chemotherapy, transportation, housing, durable medical equipment and bridging the gap of uncovered medical expenses.
The process to receive aid from the nonprofit is simple. First apply on its website, then there’s a vetting process and once approved, the charity can then help you.
Since the crew is 100% volunteer, over 80% is sent to the applicants, the other 20% goes back into the organization to hold fundraisers, Mazer told Shore Local in November 2023.
Next month’s event is the nonprofit’s second annual dance party fundraiser and is a more casual one, compared to its annual gala fundraiser, which is an elaborate and elegant evening with a cocktail hour, plated dinner, a 360 photo booth and auctions, complete with live music.
For $40 a ticket, attendees will get food, dance to music by DJ BEBO, get drinks at a cash bar, participate in trying to win auction items and a 50/50 raffle.
Gift cards, baskets and merchandise from local shops in Ocean City will all be up for auction, according to Christopher Pusak, who handles the public relations for the nonprofit.
Besides the dance party and the gala, Mazer also facilitates small-scale events to fundraise in her hair salon, Avant Girl, like giveaways with the help from other Margate businesses.
She said the nonprofit hopes to bring in at least 100 guests to the dance party.
Those interested in attending can purchase a ticket at the nonprofit’s website: www.toastpink.org.
Julia is a student at Rider University, majoring in multiplatform journalism with a minor in social media strategies. At school, she writes and is news editor for The Rider News and is the News Director for the radio station, producing news updates. She’ll be graduating in the spring. Connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
