Pasta Dinner To Benefit Bayville Man Fighting Cancer

BERKELEY, NJ — The Berkeley Little League community is hosting a spaghetti dinner on Friday to benefit Rich Citro, a Bayville man who is fighting cancer.

Parents will take care of the cooking and baseball players will serve guests during the fundraiser at the Berkeley Little League Complex at 43 Moorage Ave from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

For a $10 ticket that can be purchased online or at the door, attendees can enjoy a meal of spaghetti, meatballs, salad and bread, as well as coffee and a cannoli for an extra two dollars. All of the proceeds from the dinner will go to the Citro family.

Tables will be set up for people to eat there or they can also take their meals to go, according to event organizer Melanie Ambler-Valverde.

She planned the fundraiser alongside Dawn Bentivegna, who secured the venue and gathered food donations for the dinner.

Citro’s youngest son plays baseball in the Berkeley Little League. During the games, Citro would often be down at the field helping out.

Since he was diagnosed with cancer in September 2020, he has not been able to volunteer for the team as often or return to work.

“They’re struggling a little bit,” Ambler-Valverde told Patch. “His wife is the only one really supporting them, so we thought a little bit helps, so we’re doing the fundraiser down at the field.”

Despite his battle with cancer, Citro still attends some games to see his son play baseball.

Ambler-Valverde said Berkeley Little League is pursuing scholarships so the family will not have to pay the registration fee for him.

“They’re a very prideful family. They appreciate every little bit of it and would rather not even accept it,” she said. “They would never ask for anything, but we’re hoping just little things they don’t have to worry about will help out.”

More information about the fundraiser can be found here.

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