Dick Vitale Gala sets new fundraising record

Athletes, celebrities, honorees and guests from all corners donned their best attire to dazzle Sarasota for the Dick Vitale Gala on May 3. Founded by ESPN and basketball coach Jim Valvano, the V Foundation — and everyone who supports it — has a singular mission: to achieve victory over cancer. Dick Vitale devotes the event to his “All-Courageous Team” of cancer survivors who sit directly in front of him for dinner.

With the ballroom at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota at capacity, the event boasted over 900 guests, and the wait-listed will have to wait until next year for an opportunity to attend this annual, star-studded event. 

2024 honorees included Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon and Tennessee men’s head basketball coach Rick Barnes. The John Saunders Courage Award went posthumously to Nikki McCay, who’s in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. The Dick Vitale Spirit Award went to Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. Kelly, who led the Buffalo Bills to four Super Bowls, has kicked cancer to the curb as a four-time survivor. His good nature and spirit were evident as he enthusiastically posed for photos and signed autographs with an unwavering smile on his face.

With a plan to raise $12 million dollars at the May 3 gala, Vitale met his goal and Mark Pentecost, CEO of It Works!, made a pledge to match what was raised. Together with Pentecost’s generous match, the event raised $24.8 million — $13 million more than the 2023 event. To date, the V Foundation has raised $93.1 million.