Customers at Fragnito's Place in Coplay were generous with their tips last weekend.

They all came to be served by their favorite "celebrity bartenders," various local people who donated their time to help Fragnito's raise money for Good Shepherd Rehabilitation.

"Good Shepherd has all kinds of wonderful programs," said Diane Fragnito, whose daughter, Christina, receives various forms of therapy at Good Shepherd as she works to recover from having a brain tumor. (See related story, this page).

All revenue from the sale of donated food, including meatballs, pierogies and various desserts, went directly to Good Shepherd. The event also raised funds through the sale of tickets for a 50/50 raffle, chances to win one of three donated baskets tie-dyed event T-shirts.

Any tips earned by the "celebrities" also went to Good Shepherd, allowing the two-day event to raise $1,440.

Fragnito said a customer donated $10 to the cause Monday. Two additional people were also expected to make donations, she said Monday night.

"If I have to throw the rest in myself, I'm hitting $1,500," she said.

Anthony and Christina were involved in the planning of the event, said Fragnito. Her daughters Nicole Hudak of Northampton and Maria Fragnito of Whitehall also assisted.

Fragnito's husband, Anthony, broke his leg Thursday evening and was unable to help. However, he called frequently to find out how everything was going.

This is the fourth year the Fragnitos have been doing the celebrity bartender benefits.

The first year, they organized an event to benefit the families of Denise Merhi and Stephen Zernhelt of Northampton, who were murdered in 2010. Michael Eric Ballard eventually pleaded guilty to killing Merhi and her father and grandfather, along with Zernhelt, a neighbor who heard screams and tried to help.

That event raised $750.

"I was absolutely thrilled because this is a tiny bar," she said.

The following year, the Fragnitos raised money to benefit Sgt. Adam Keys and his family and the family of Spc. Jesse Reed. A roadside bomb in Afghanistan took Reed's life. Keys was seriously wounded and lost several limbs.

Fragnito's daughter, Leah Feist, graduated from Whitehall High School with Reed and Keys, she said.

That event raised $960.

"Last year I wasn't going to do a benefit," Fragnito said, adding Christina had just been released from the hospital. But a friend suggested she do a benefit for Good Shepherd.

The event raised $1,220 for Good Shepherd's pediatric unit.

This year, the proceeds benefit the Good Shepherd neurology unit, which has also worked with Christina.

"Let them get a piece of equipment or something," Fragnito said.