(Credit: Parx Casino)
(The following is a press release from Parx Casino)
Parx Casino® is proud to announce a $10,000 donation to Penn Medicine’s Basser Center for BRCA, the world’s first comprehensive center for the research, treatment, and prevention of BRCA-related cancers.
The donation and related activations throughout October are inspired by the personal journey of Carrie Nork Minelli, Parx Casino’s director of advertising & public relations, who tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation and courageously underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy earlier this year.
October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Parx will include a month-long fundraiser with a special Pink Lady cocktail served at all Parx restaurants and bars in Bucks County during October, Spin for Strength Promotion on Friday, October 3rd with the Pink Mega Wheel and a special Breast Cancer Awareness Month shirt giveaway, and Penn Medicine Mobile Mammography Van doing complimentary community screenings on site outside on Saturday, with Minelli and the Parx team volunteering during the event.
“Learning that I carried the BRCA1 gene mutation changed my life," said Minelli. "Through genetic testing, education and ultimately surgery, I was able to take control of my future. "This not only let me take control of my life but it gave me a new personal mission to spread awareness and encourage other women to get tested. I am beyond grateful to Parx Casino’s leadership for stepping forward to support Penn Medicine’s Basser Center. Their commitment to advancing research and providing life-saving resources will have a lasting impact for so many individuals and families.”
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Parx Casino will host several events and initiatives to promote early detection and education:
* Spin for Strength Promotion
Friday: 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Eligible casino guests can spin the Pink Mega Wheel for free slot play prizes up to $500 and a special Breast Cancer Awareness Month Parx T-shirt. Parx Casino® will make a $10,000 donation to Penn Medicine’s Basser Center as part of this event.
* Penn Medicine Mobile Mammography Van
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Parx Casino® Parking Lot (near bus pickup)
For the first time ever in Bucks County, Penn Medicine’s state-of-the-art mobile mammography van will be on-site at Parx Casino®. Women ages 40 and older can walk in for a breast cancer screening mammogram, even if they do not have health insurance.
* Breast Cancer Awareness Month Fundraiser: The Pink Lady Cocktail
All month long, guests can enjoy The Pink Lady cocktail at every Parx Casino® restaurant and bar, with a portion of proceeds included in the overall donation to the Basser Center. The Pink Lady is a specially designed cocktail exclusively available during October, with gin, applejack, freshly squeezed lemon juice, grenadine, egg white and maraschino cherry garnish. It will be available at Parx in Bucks County at all restaurants and bars, including Liberty Bell Pub, Liberty Bell Beer Garden, X Lounge, Parxgrill, Bambu and Chickie's and Pete's.
“Parx Casino® is honored to play a role in raising awareness, providing access to critical screenings, and funding the groundbreaking work of the Basser Center,” said Parx Casino Chief Marketing Officer Marc Oppenheimer. “Carrie’s journey has been an inspiration to our entire team, and we are proud to stand with her and with countless others whose lives are impacted by BRCA-related cancers.”
“We are grateful to Carrie for inspiring this generous support of the Basser Center’s mission,” said Basser Center for BRCA Executive Director Susan Domchek, M.D. “At the Basser Center, we take cancer personally, and we hope to one day see a world free of the devastating effects of BRCA-related cancers.”
Through these education, prevention, and awareness events, Parx Casino is helping give women and their families the tools they need to take control of their health and their futures.
PARX SHIPPENSBURG DONATES $5,000
Parx Casino® Shippensburg is proud to announce a $5,000 donation to the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance as part of its commitment to supporting the local community during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The contribution is tied to the casino’s Spin for Strength promotion, held on Friday, October 17 from 2pm – 10pm, where guests had the opportunity to spin the Pink Mega Wheel for free slot play prizes up to $500 and receive a special Parx t-shirt. For every participant, Parx Casino® pledged to donate to the Alliance, resulting in the $5,000 gift.
In addition, throughout the month of October, guests will be able to enjoy the specially crafted Pink Lady Cocktail, available at all casino bars and Liberty Bar & Grill. A portion of the proceeds from each cocktail sold will be included in the overall donation to the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance, giving guests another way to show their support.
“We are honored to support the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance and their mission of providing critical resources and support to local patients and families,” said John Marshall, general manager of Parx Casino® Shippensburg. “Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to unite as a community, and this initiative is a powerful reminder that small actions can make a big difference in the fight against breast cancer.”
The Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance provides direct assistance, education, and advocacy to women and families impacted by breast cancer in the region.
“We are deeply grateful for this generous donation from Parx Casino® Shippensburg,” said Samantha Anne Logsdon, CEO and director of the Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance. “Community partnerships like this make it possible for us to continue serving women and families with the care and resources they need. This support helps us bring hope, strength, and comfort to so many during their breast cancer journey.”
This initiative is part of Parx Casino’s ongoing efforts to give back to the communities it serves, reinforcing its role as both a premier entertainment destination and a dedicated community partner.
CARRIE'S STORY
Minelli has been the architect behind Parx’s public voice for 15 years, driving its rise to Pennsylvania’s top casino. In 2024, her personal mission expanded. After testing positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation and undergoing a preventive double mastectomy at Penn Medicine, Minelli emerged with a renewed sense of purpose: to raise awareness about BRCA genetic testing and advocate for proactive health education.
Her inspiration runs deep.
“My late mother, Carol Nork, was my greatest influence,” Minelli shares. “She had the same BRCA1 gene mutation but didn’t catch it in time. Her strength, grace and love will always be my guiding light.”
Mrs. Nork’s legacy lives on through Minelli’s tireless advocacy and powerful leadership. She is immensely grateful for the resources at Penn Medicine and Penn’s Basser Center for BRCA, which have provided her with support, health and purpose.
"I decided to get tested after my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation," said Minelli. "After her breast cancer battle, she bravely chose to have her tubes and ovaries removed. But by then, it was too late — ovarian cancer was already growing in her body. She fought that battle courageously, gracefully, and with hardcore strength until July 15, 2024."
"Watching my mother endure everything with such resilience and ultimately losing her made me realize that knowledge is power - not just for me, but for my whole family. I needed to know if I carried that same risk. And I knew I wanted to be proactive with my own health and future - for myself and for the people I love most. That’s why I chose genetic testing. That’s why I chose prevention," she said.
"When I found out I was BRCA1 positive — just like all three of my brothers — it hit me hard. But it also gave me clarity. I looked at my mom’s strength and thought, I have the chance to make a choice. A preventative double mastectomy in January 2025 felt like reclaiming my future. I wasn’t going to wait for cancer to come to me - I chose to meet it at the door and shut it out before it had the chance," she said. "Taking my health into my own hands wasn’t just a medical decision. It was an act of empowerment. And I hope it inspires others to listen to their intuition, seek answers, and take bold steps forward."
For information and to help raise awareness, visit basser.org.
ABOUT PARX CASINO®
Parx Casino® is owned and operated by Greenwood Racing Inc.® and is the #1 revenue generating casino property in Pennsylvania. Parx Casino® is conveniently located 20 minutes north of Center City Philadelphia on Street Road in Bensalem, Bucks County. Parx features over 180,000 square feet of gaming and sports wagering space with 3,000 slot machines, 148 live table games and 48 poker tables in a private room; live thoroughbred horse racing and simulcast action; Xcite Center, a 1,500 seat live entertainment venue; nine restaurants and bars; and complimentary parking for over 5,000 cars. In 2019, Parx Casino® launched sports betting with a $10 million world-class sportsbook and online sports betting. Greenwood Racing Inc.® currently conducts online casino gaming and sports wagering operations in New Jersey, Michigan and Pennsylvania under the betPARX® brand.
