Dick Vitale Gala Honors Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan
4th Annual V Foundation for Cancer Research Event on May 15 in Sarasota, FL

May 15, 2009
Sarasota, FL --- The stars were bright on Friday night in Sarasota once again as Dick Vitale hosted his fourth annual star-studded event to raise funding for cancer research at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota.  The 2009 Dick Vitale Gala to benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research featured two of the biggest stars in college basketball coaching – Louisville’s Rick Pitino and Florida head coach Billy Donovan.

The event raised $1.1 million for cancer research.  The 2009 proceeds will help fund research for lung cancer at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, and pediatric cancer research at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, continuing The V Foundation’s commitment to fund research in cancer centers serving the needs of residents whose communities support V Foundation fundraising events.

The Gala is Vitale’s fourth annual event for The V Foundation, which has now awarded in excess of $3 million for cancer research funding to area cancer facilities with proceeds from the four Dick Vitale Galas.
 
“Dick’s passion and dedication to The V Foundation is unsurpassed,” said V Foundation CEO Nick Valvano.   “We are grateful to Rick and Billy, and all of the other celebrities who are donating their time to help make this event a fundraising success. It is a very special night highlighted by some very special people,” Valvano concluded.  

As is Gala tradition, coaching greats and sports celebrities from across the country joined Vitale to honor Donovan and Pitino.  Names of additional celebrity guests include Jimmy Arias, Paul Azinger, Nick Bolletieri, Mike Brey, John Calipari, Jamie Dixon, Fran Fraschilla, Tom Izzo, Stu Jackson, Vincent Lecavalier, Urban Meyer, Raheem Morris, Tom Penders, Digger Phelps, John Saunders, Reggie Theus, Rick Tocchet, Jeff Torborg, Ralph Willard, Doug Williams, and Jay Wright to name a few.

The Vitale Gala not only helps further The Foundation’s mission to fund research, but also brings many visitors and significant revenue into the Sarasota area.  In addition to the $1 million in research that The Foundation funded locally last year, the one-day event is estimated to have generated a nearly $¾ million economic impact to the Sarasota area according to statistics provided by the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Some-68% of the 2008 Gala guests attended from outside of Florida, representing 28 states, from as far as Hawaii and California.  Hotel rooms, private planes, golf, and dining were a few of the revenue-producers for the area economy.  

 Additional Gala information is available at The V Foundation website: http://www.jimmyv.org.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $80 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received six consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit http://www.jimmyv.org.