Fighting Prostate Cancer Focus of Parsippany Night Out

One in six men will contract prostate cancer in his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 32,000 likely will die this year. That's why dozens of township residents headed Monday evening to the Parsippany Holiday Inn for Parsippany Night Out.

About 80 people turned out to enjoy a buffet supper catered by area restaurants, music from a DJ, conversation and a silent auction with the knowledge that all proceeds from the evening will benefit the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

Former U.S. Rep. Dean Gallo, a former Parsippany council member, Morris County Freeholder and General Assembly minority leader of the General Assembly died from prostate cancer in 1994. 

The Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce and the Parsippany Area Visitor Center  teamed up to sponsor the event, whose purpose, according to PACC President Robert J. Peluso, was to provide education on the disease and encouraging early preventative screenings.  

PACC Executive Director Craig Schlosser said putting on the event was a joint effort of Chamber board members Robert Peluso, Frank Cahill, Sergio Lorenzo, Joe Nicastro and Lisa Montalbano; marketing volunteers Ryan LaCorte and James and Samuel Fang; Lisa Koch Fraser of Integrated Payroll Systems, who organized the vendors; and Rachael DiCioccio of Employment Horizons, Bridget Katilas of Provident Bank,  Mary Beth Kane of Care One and Holiday Inn's Samia Dumani, who helped with event management.