Catasauqua American Legion Post 215 hosted an American Cancer Society breast cancer awareness bingo event Sept. 27, as part of Dennis Hower’s 2026 Real Men Wear Pink campaign. Hower, who served as the guest bingo caller for the event, has been a fundraising ambassador since 2018.

When asked why he became involved with the American Cancer Society’s fundraising efforts, Hower said, “Well, I lost my father to cancer and several members of Local 773 were diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s close to me.”

Hower is president of Teamsters Local 773, which represents clerical workers in the Bethlehem Area School District. Several union members who are breast cancer survivors nominated him for the American Cancer Society’s Real Men Wear Pink program.

For his first campaign, Hower set a fundraising goal of $10,000 and pledged to dye his beard pink if the goal was reached. He ended up sporting a pink beard that year and has continued the tradition every October since.

Since 2018, Hower has been responsible for raising $665,000 and has set a goal of adding another $175,000 to that total in 2026. If achieved, the additional funds will support a new cancer research grant.

Hower was especially excited about the research grant his fundraising efforts helped fund last year, noting the research was recently published.

The Sept. 27 fundraising event included 20 cash prize bingo games, five special games, a basket raffle and 50/50 raffle.

His dedication to the cause is also permanent. Hower proudly showed off a pink ribbon tattoo on his leg featuring the initials of the top donors from his 2018 campaign.