Vitale Gala reaches $1.7 million mark but donations still coming in

The Dick Vitale Gala raised $1.7 million this year at its annual event to raise money for pediatric cancer research, but Dickie V. says people are still contributing and the number could go higher.

Vitale said the Gala raised $2.1 million last year thanks to an anonymous donor who gave $500,000 after the Gala was over. This year he is hoping to reach that $2 million mark again.

"Things have been great. We've raised $10.3 million since we started this eight years ago. It's awesome," Vitale said. "We've had great responses from the coaches and many of the people who were there. Many said it was the best event they've ever attended and it certainly is for a good cause."

Final numbers in: Vitale Gala hits the jackpot

With the final numbers in, the Dick Vitale Gala hit the jackpot breaking the $2 million barrier for the first time since its inception seven years ago in raising money for pediatric cancer research in conjunction with the Jimmy V Foundation.

It took in a record $2.1 million following its fund raising finale at the May 18^th Dick Vitale Gala. Net proceeds from the event will benefit All Children’s Hospital and provide memorial grants to the University of Florida Shands Hospital in memory of Caleb Jacobbe and the Moffitt Cancer Center in memory of David Heard.

“This year’s gala certainly would bring a smile to the face of Jimmy V as we lived by his motto that every day should be filled with laughter, thought and tears,” Vitale said. “There was no doubt that was achieved by our sold-out crowd of over 800 (at the Gala). Words cannot describe the feeling to know that we more than reached our goal.

“This year we were able to raise more than $2.1 million. There’s nothing we can do to bring back the precious children who lost their lives to this terrible disease, but with your help, we will work to fight cancer for future generations. I simply would like to thank everyone who made this possible. You are all AWESOME BABY WITH A CAPITAL A!”

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 $120 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. Administrative and fundraising expenses are paid by the Foundation's endowment.

The Foundation said it 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 www.jimmyv.org.

“The record proceeds from this year’s Gala is a testament to the incredible work Dick has done for The V Foundation and pediatric cancer research,” said Nick Valvano, CEO of The V Foundation and Jim Valvano’s brother. “The Gala’s success over the past seven years has been truly outstanding.”

Dick Vitale selected for Little League Hall of Excellence

Dick Vitale (center) honored by Little League

Just when you think there can't be another Hall of Fame for Dick Vitale it happens.

The ESPN college basketball iconic TV analyst recently learned that he is going to be inducted into the Little League Hall of Fame in Williamsport, Pa.

It will be the 11th Hall of Fame for the Lakewood Ranch resident. Actually it is officially called the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum Hall of Excellence and was established to recognize Little League graduates who have become outstanding citizens and role models as adults

"It's the greatest thrill to be there and something I want to share with my grandkids. I am absolutely ecstatic," Vitale said. "The first uniform I ever had was with the Garfield Little League in New Jersey in 1951. I am going to be like a little kid at the ceremony with my autograph pad."

Vitale is slated to be inducted during the Little League World Series between August 16th and 26th. He is being inducted for his work in community affairs, particularly for the Jimmy V Foundation that raises money for pediatric cancer research.

"I am not getting in for baseball, but I will tell you I was one heck've little leaguer" Vitale said. "I once had a perfect game with two outs in the last inning and the ball was hit through the first baseman. I could pitch. I learned how to throw a curve when I was 13 and by the time I was 15 my elbow hurt so much I couldn't get velocity anymore on my fastball."

Dick Vitale Gala will have new wrinkle this year

You can always expect the unexpected from Dick Vitale, especially when it is something that is going to generate excitement.

This year is no exception. The 2012 Dick Vitale Gala to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research will be hosting an after party that will have live music.

The Dick Vitale Gala, which raises money for pediatric cancer research and has been vital in saving the lives of so many children, will be held May 12th at the Sarasota Ritz-Carlton.

The Gala, in its seventh year, will be honoring former Maryland head basketball coach Gary Williams and current Villanova head coach Jay Wright along with former head football coach and current ESPN analyst Lou Holtz.

We will begin the evening with a cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. For the first time in the gala's history, we will be hosting an after party with live music. Tickets are available now for sale and begin at $1,000 per ticket.

Dick Vitale tribute nets needed dollars for cancer research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research and the New Jersey Friends of V, announced that two recent New Jersey events___the Inaugural Jimmy V New Jersey Dinner and the Duffy Alberta Charity Golf Classic, netted more than $100,000 for cancer research.

The Jimmy V New Jersey Dinner was dubbed “Welcome Home Dick Vitale” and honored the longtime supporter of The V Foundation and New Jersey native, Dick Vitale. It resulted in a bonanza of good will and much needed bucks for cancer research.

During the sold-out event, East Rutherford’s Mayor and Vitale’s former player, Jim Cassella, announced that an East Rutherford playground and basketball court will be named in Vitale’s honor.

“I was in awe and emotionally touched when I discovered that the basketball courts and playground in East Rutherford would be named in my honor,” said Vitale. “I’m also very excited about The V Foundation’s emerging presence in New Jersey and I’m optimistic about ongoing fundraising efforts in my home town.”

The Duffy Alberta Charity Golf Classic was held in Haworth, New Jersey, on October 10^th to honor Charles “Duffy” Alberta, one of Vitale’s former players who passed away in January following a battle with cancer. This event was held in conjunction with the “Welcome Home Dick Vitale” event.

"The Duffy Alberta Charity Golf Classic has given us the opportunity to honor my dad’s legacy while raising much needed research dollars to help families touched by this terrible disease,” said Chris Alberta, Duffy’s son. “By designating the proceeds from our event to The V Foundation, we pay tribute to Dick for his impact on my dad’s life and his own passion for eradicating pediatric cancer."

Dick Vitale fest set for Friday at Cafe Gabbiano

Dickie Vitale at it again

The legendary college basketball commentator never seems to run out of ideas or energy to raise money for those cancer fighting kids he has symbolically adopted all over the world.

This Friday night he is hosting a dinner party to top all dinner parties (if that is possible with this guy) at Café Gabbiano in Siesta Key Village.

Vitale says for $95 a person can enjoy a seven course meal, including wine with the proceeds going to his Vitale Gala, which raises money every year for pediatric cancer. The first 200 persons to sign up will get in.

“Peter and Susan Migilaccio (Gabbiano owners) are donating their restaraunt and food and for this cause because they want to help people battling cancer,” Vitale said. “We will have parents there who have lost their children to cancer in honoring Payton Wright, the daughter of Patrick and Holy Wright and Adrian Littlejohn, the son of Anthony and Ivette Littlejohn.”

Anyone who desires to attend should call ahead for reservations at 941-349-1423. All proceeds will be used to benefit cancer research, Vitale said.

Dick Vitale Gala has record setting night

Final Four coaches gather with Dickie V. at Dick Vitale Gala
(L-R Jim Calhoun, Dick Vitale, Shaka Smart, John Calipari, Brad Stevens)

Dickie Vitale broke the bank at this year’s Dick Vitale Gala raising a record $1.3 million for pediatric cancer research.

It was the most money ever raised the Gala exceeding the $1.2 million that event brought in several years ago when it honored Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“We are ecstatic that we broke the record,” Vitale said after learning of the figures late last week. “It’s absolutely amazing and I want to thank all the people from the Bradenton-Sarasota are and the celebrities who came and made this possible.

“I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can’t thank enough all the stars that came on their own expense without charge and the many, many thousands of dollars they gave. I am talking serious donations. We in the Jimmy V Foundation are very happy with the final numbers.”

The scene at Vitale’s house the next day where many of the guests gathered was very emotional. Anthony Littlejohn, Lakewood Ranch assistant football coach who lost his 15 month old son Adrian Shawn to cancer on May 1^st, gave an impassioned speech thanking everyone who had helped him and his wife Ivette get through the tough times.

Vitale said plans are already under way for next year’s Dick Vitale Gala that will be held May 18^th at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota. He plans to honor former college football coach and ESPN analyst Lou Holtz, Villanova head basketball coach Jay Wright and former Maryland head basketball coach Gary Williams.

Calhoun calls for no more Big East Expansion

Jim Calhoun, who led Connecticut to the men’s NCAA Basketball title this year, will be at the Big East Conference meetings his week and is saying he doesn’t want to see anymore teams added.

He believes it will mean the end of the Big East Conference as we now know it.

Expansion to improve the much maligned Big East football conference is expected to a hot topic when the meetings get underway in Ponte Vedra.

It seems everyone has Villanova on its mind and that could be good or bad from the Wildcats perspective.

An FCS (formerly I-AA) football powerhouse, Villanova has talked about moving up to I-A (FBS). However, the plan has been met with mixed reactions for a league that has been criticized for not deserving to be an automatic qualifier to the BCS bowls.

TCU comes joins the league as its 17^th team for the 2012-13 year and brings instant football credibility. But now there is talk that the Big East needs to add one or more football playing schools.

Calhoun, the Huskies coach for 25 years, calls it a bad idea.

“I don’t want to see 18 teams,” Calhoun said Friday when he was attending the Dick Vitale Gala. “The Big East is not the Southeastern Conference, but neither is anybody else. Give it time (for football). We are only 11 or 12 years old in big time football and there is a chance to be very good.”

Villanova’s plan to become a football playing member has met resistance by some football members who see it as a negative. Some of the schools being talked about to join as a football member include Houston, UCF, East Carolina.

The criticism of Villanova is that among other things it plays in an 18,500 seat soccer stadium and its proposed expansion plans are not seen as much of an improvement.

Calhoun said expanding the Big East with more football schools would likely cause the seven non-football playing members to break away and possibly form their own conference. They are Villanova, DePaul, Marquette, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Providence, St. Johns.

Rodgers-Cromartie gives Mistral Raymond a boost at Dick Vitale Gala

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie sees big things for Mistral Raymond, the Palmetto High graduate out of USF. who could become the fourth defensive back from Manatee County play in the NFL this season.

Rodgers-Cromartie was at the Dick Vitale Gala Friday night along with his dad, Stan Cromartie, who is assistant Athletic Director at Edward Waters College.

"I think Bubba (Raymond's nickname) is going into a great situation at Minnesota," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "They need corners and him being a good safety/corner he is going in and learn from Antoine Winfield, who has been an all pro for many years."

The starting cornerback for Arizona, Rodgers-Cromartie believes Manatee County is turning into 'Cornerback County' because of a trend started by Bayshore graduate Fabian Washington, who was first round pick in 2005 out of Nebraska and is now with Baltimore.

"Before everyone here wanted to be a receiver, but Fabian changed that. Now everyone wants to make that transition to cornerback" said Rodgers-Cromartie who played his senior year at Lakewood Ranch before going on to Tennessee State.

In 2008, Rodgers-Cromartie was a first round pick by Arizona in the same year Southeast graduate Mike Jenkins was picked in the first round by Dallas.

Rodgers-Cromartie is anxious to get back on the field, but feels certain the NFL Players Union will get a good deal for the players.

"I think they are doing a real good job and I am confident things will work out," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "Since the lockout I've been relaxing and going to some of the off season camps and working out sometimes here in Bradenton. I am not too much worried about the season. I think it's going to start on time."

Sam Shields attends Dick Vitale Gala

The Dick Vitale Gala on Friday night didn't just involve basketball players coming to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

One of those in attendance was Green Bay Packer rookie sensation Sam Shields who stunned the pro football world in 2010.

Shields was one of the best feel good stories in the NFL last season, coming out of nowhere to earn a spot on the Packer secondary as a cornerback after spending nearly his entire career at Miami as a receiver.

He was one of the most highly touted receivers in the country coming out of Sarasota Booker and is considered one of the best pass catchers the Manatee-Sarasota County area has ever produced.

"I've been back at the University of Miami working out with some of the players since the lockout," Shields said. "The lockout is what it is. It's something I can't control and I am just waiting for the decision by the judge and hopefully we can get back to work. I hope it ends before the regular season starts.

"Right now I have a three year contract with Green Bay so I don't know if anything will affect me directly. Hopefully, I can have a good year next year and go back to the table and talk.

"Since the Super Bowl things have been great for me. It's been a long journey to get there and it's been a blessing and I thank my family for helping me.

"I am here tonight to support Dick Vitale. My aunt passed away some years back from cancer and it is close to me."

Calipari says Butler-VCU success puts pressure on coaches

John Calipari says the success of Butler and Virginia Commonwealth in this year's NCAA Tournament with both reaching the Final Four puts tremendous pressure on coaches at non-BCS schools.

The Kentucky head coach was in town to attend the Dick Vitale Gala as an honored guest. He talked about how much the Gala along the Jimmy V Foundation has raised money to fight cancer and how his mother died last November from the dreaded disease.

After showing his emotion, Calipari asked a bunch of reporters, "can we talk some basketball now."

Calipari said he didn't think the success of Butler making two straight Final Fours and VCU getting there this year signals a trend. But it does make things tougher on coaches from the non BCS schools.

"I hate that that happened for anyone who coaches at a school like VCU or Butler because now every coach at those levels (will hear) 'well VCU did it, Butler did it back to back why can't you.'

"I was at Massachusetts and Memphis. To get a Final Four when you are a non-BCS school is extremely, extremely, rare and difficult so I don't see a trend

Dereck Whittenburg remebers "the shot" at Dick Vitale Gala

The Dick Vitale Gala on Friday was a huge success with sports celebrities from all over the country in attendance to raise money for pediatric cancer research under the Jimmy V Foundation.

No one in attendance was happier than Dereck Whittenburg, who played on the the North Carolina State 1983 national championship team coached by the late Jimmy Valvano, who started the Jimmy V Foundation with ESPN.

Whittenburg is most remembered for his long shot attempt in the '83 title game that fell short but teammate Lorenzo Charles grabbed and dunked for what turned out to be the game winning shot.

"It's great being part of the Jimmy V board and I can't tell you how thrilled we are about what Dick Vitale does for us," Whittenburg said. "This is a great event and we love coming down here and importantly we are doing this all for the right reasons, which is to raise money for cancer so we can be this dreaded disease.

"What I remember most about Jimmy Valvano is that he didn't want anybody to feel sorry for him. He wanted us to raise money to raise awareness to find a cure that may not save his life, but hopefully save a family member's life or somebody you love.

"He was a player's coach, a wonderful guy to play for. I loved the man and I also coached with him as an assistant. I can't tell you how much I love the guy.

____Hey that was a pass not a shot and I will always remember that," he said with a laugh.

Vitale Gala Will Award Research Grants

2011 DICK VITALE GALA To benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research May 20, 2011 The Ritz-Carlton Sarasota Sarasota, FL Featuring Special Guests: John Calipari, Roy Williams & Nick Bollettieri We are pleased to announce that two pediatric cancer research grants will be awarded at the Dick Vitale Gala. These grants will be in memory of Lucy Webber, Johnny Teis and Adrian Littlejohn, young children who recently lost their lives to cancer. A grant for $500,000 will be awarded to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, and will be named in memory of Lucy Weber and Johnny Teis. A grant of $250,000 will be awarded to All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, in memory of Adrian Littlejohn. The Gala will celebrate two children who are cancer survivors, Darren Shanks and Tatum Parker. Both Darren and Tatum will be recognized with a special award at the event. See you on May 20 at the Dick Vitale Gala!

The 6th Annual Dick Vitale Gala

Adrian Shawn Littlejohn's memory will be cherished

Dick Vitale and his Jimmy V Foundation will make sure the life of Adrian Shawn Littlejohn will not be forgotten.

The 14 month old son of Lakewood Ranch assistant football coach Anthony Littlejohn and his wife Ivette lost his life to cancer last weekend after waging a ferocious battle.

Vitale said his foundation is going to give a grant in excess of $250,000 in Adrian’s name for a research grant for All Children’s Hospital where he was a patient. Click here to read full story.

Adrian’s memory will also be a focal point of the sixth annual Dick Vitale Gala on May 20^th, which will bring some of the biggest sports names to the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota for a night.