Beacon Unicorn Fund
Who was the Pink Unicorn?
The Pink Unicorn of Beacon was a man by the name of David Shelly, a local Beacon resident who moved to the area in 2016. The Pink Unicorn story begins on a snowy day in the winter of 2021, managing the snow in front of local Beacon businesses on the West end of town. He was snowblowing and a grateful building owner came out of her building and asked Dave “What do I owe you?”, and he replied, nothing, my dream is to do this dressed in a pink unicorn costume. A few weeks went by and one day in March of 2021, that pink unicorn costume arrived in the mail and the Pink Unicorn of Beacon was born.
The Pink Unicorn began walking the streets of Beacon on the weekends. He would walk around the famous Beacon Farmer’s Market, dancing with kids and spreading joy and laughter. From there he would walk from one end of Main Street to the other spreading happiness and giving Beacon a spark of special.
Dave would also spread joy sitting outside of the Marion Royael Gallery, handing out free flowers, free hugs, smiley face coasters as vouchers for free ice cream at Beacon Creamery and Zora Doras. He would set up dance circles on the sidewalk to get others to dance and laugh.
The Pink Unicorn did all of this, until, on October 15, 2023, the he showed symptoms of what would be diagnosed as an aggressive form of stage 4 brain cancer, known as glioblastoma multiforma. He would die two months later on December 15, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of joy, laughter-filled memories, and a promise from his wife Jill, to begin the Beacon Unicorn Fund
Content featuring Dave and the Pink Unicorn:
What is the Beacon Unicorn Fund
The Beacon Unicorn Fund is a dream that Dave and his wife, Jill, talked about carrying out to give financial aid to those in the Beacon community experiencing financial hardship. Please stay tuned for further information on the application process
JOIN US!
Beacon Unicorn Fund Launch and Benefit Event
Friday, December, 13, 2024
Dennings Point Distillery
7-9pm
Thank you to all those who came out to support the launch of the Beacon Unicorn Fund and for your generous donations and participation in the evening.
Big Thank you to MC Scott Ramsey
Big thank you to our performers Jeremy Schonfeld, Gus Schonfeld, and Jen Malenke. and to The Costellos for the music video in honor of Dave
Big Thank you to the contributing businesses for the silent auction Hudson Beach Glass, Beacon Tintype, Witch Hazel, Last Outpost Store, Beacon Creamery, and King + Curated
STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE EVENTS!!!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Calling All Beacon Businesses: Join the Magical
Pink Unicorn Passport Journey!
Beacon, NY – The Beacon Unicorn Fund is inviting Main Street and Beacon-based businesses to join a whimsical, community-powered initiative: the Pink Unicorn Passport Journey. Launching on National Unicorn Day, the project is a fun, family-friendly way to support small businesses while helping local Beacon residents in need.
The Pink Unicorn Passport invites shoppers and visitors to explore participating locations, collect stamps, and earn magical rewards—all while supporting the Beacon Unicorn Fund, which provides direct aid to individuals and families in Beacon facing hardship.
Current participating businesses include:
Marion Royael Gallery
King + Curated
Scarborough Fare
The Roosevelt Bar
Old Dhaka Coffee
Sibling
Witch Hazel
Businesses that join can participate in various ways:
✨ Feature a special “Unicorn” product or promotion
✨ Donate a portion of proceeds to the Beacon Unicorn Fund
✨ Offer in-store rewards for passport holders
✨ Help distribute passports and collect stamps
“We’re building something joyful and impactful,” said Jill Quaglino, founder of the Beacon Unicorn Fund. “This is a fun way to bring people through your doors, celebrate creativity, and be part of a movement that helps our neighbors.”
Participating businesses will be highlighted in press coverage, printed materials, and social media, and featured on the official Pink Unicorn Passport map and QR-accessible guide.
Interested businesses can fill out the intake form here.
Questions?
Contact Jill Quaglino at beaconunicornfund@gmail.com or 845-797-1823.
Join the magic—one unicorn stamp at a time. 🦄✨
