Park Slope 5th Avenue BID’s Mark Caserta Knows That Real Men Wear Pink

Mark Caserta is at it again.

On any given day, the tireless Executive Director of the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID is hard to miss on vibrant 5th Avenue.

However, his focus spans far beyond the nuts and bolts of independent businesses, public policy, and non-profit advocacy.

Since July, he’s been wearing pink. Lots and lots of pink.

The Brooklyn office of the American Cancer Society will soon be moving into 509 5th Avenue (between 12th and 13th Streets). Last summer, they asked Caserta if he’d like to join Real Men Wear Pink, a Breast Cancer fundraising campaign.

Caserta gladly switched up his wardrobe.

“Breast cancer is a pervasive issue, and it affects men as well as women,” he says.

Caserta knows that the cause is in need of a lot more than just sporting the proper color on your clothing. “Money, fundraising, that’s what really helps. That’s what really makes a difference in order to fund research.”

Caserta and his wife, Samantha, owned 3r Living, a lifestyle store which was located at 276 5th Avenue (near 1st Street) for seven years. He’s been the Executive Director of the BID since 2013.

A pink puppet will be escorting the Park Slope 5th Avenue BID when they march as part of the Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Parade next Monday, October 31 at 6:30pm. “We’re using it to raise awareness and to raise funds,” he says.

If you’re not wearing pink, you certainly can still help out.

“The American Cancer Society is funding groundbreaking research to find, prevent, and treat breast cancer,” writes Caserta, “and are working to ensure access to mammograms for women who need them.”

You can donate at his fundraising page by using the following link.

And don’t forget to give a shoutout to the pink puppet on Monday night. It’s important.