ESPN, Founding Partner
Jim Valvano was a man of passion. It was in his face, in his voice and in his every gesture. Everyone who ever met him, played a game for him, saw him coach or heard him speak could feel his burning passion for life.
Jimmy V’s passion lives on now stronger than ever in the people of ESPN who give freely of their time, resources and creativity to support the mission of The V Foundation for Cancer Research. They do it in ways big and small, all year round through the ESPN V Committee, established by ESPN President George Bodenheimer, who expanded ESPN’s involvement in fundraising for The Foundation, and the growing number of Team ESPN members across the company.
Jim Valvano's ESPY speech is shown on the ABC Supersign in Times Square in New York City to kick of ESPN's "V Week" festivities in December.
When the ESPYS take place – the event at which Jim announced the formation of the Foundation during his inspirational speech, ESPN employees and commentators become ambassadors for The V Foundation, reaching out to ESPN’s loyal and generous fans. The annual ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic in Los Angeles is the product of countless volunteer hours donated by ESPN employees. It has raised millions of dollars in the fight against cancer.
The people of ESPN Radio have made the ESPYS V Foundation Auction on air a huge success, creatively packaging fan experiences for sale to the highest bidders. Everyone from “Mike and Mike” to staff members at ESPN Radio owned and operated stations work together to support cancer research.
“Jimmy V Week” brings together employees across ESPN’s many distribution platforms. Special content that shares Jim Valvano’s passion with millions of fans is coordinated on SportsCenter, ESPN.com, ESPN360.com and ESPN Mobile, as well as ESPNEWS, ESPNU and ESPN Classic. The week culminates with the Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic and Men’s Basketball Classic on consecutive nights, each live on ESPN networks. ESPN’s dedication and focus on The V Foundation during this week has made it one of largest fundraisers every year.
“Our many initiatives are a shining example of sports and teamwork whose results go beyond any game,” says Bodenheimer. “Our employees continue to bring the same creative thinking and commitment to The V Foundation that they’ve applied to shaping our company these 30 years. I’m extremely proud of their efforts on behalf of this great cause.”
Bob Lloyd, chairman of The V Foundation Board, and CEO Nick Valvano often remark that beyond the fundraising results of millions of dollars a year, ESPN’s media exposure has taken The Foundation from a regional non-profit to a nationally known and valued charity.
It’s hard for anyone who remembers Jim Valvano’s face to imagine it without his great, engaging grin. That’s how Dick Vitale sees him still: “It would bring a smile to Jimmy V’s face to see how so many people from ESPN’s corporate headquarters to the offices around the country have gotten involved. They’re behind The V Foundation 100 percent. I will always see Jimmy’s legacy not in him cutting down the nets after N.C. State won the national championship, but in the millions of lives he has touched through The V Foundation.”
