Vitale gives $5,000 in college scholarships

Five Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County members each received $1,000 college scholarships from ESPN television sports analyst, philanthropist and longtime supporter of the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota County, Dick Vitale. The presentation ceremony was held Wednesday, Aug. 5.

The five scholarship recipients are Kristopher Powell (Miami Dade College); Shane Sethi (Florida Southern College); Brittney Cannon (Valencia Community College); Sharod Campbell (Alabama State University); and Markus Black (Florida A&M University).

Before Vitale and his wife, Lorraine, presented the recipients with their scholarships, Vitale addressed the 500 audience members about doing the right thing.

“Life is very simple,” Vitale said. “Life is about good decisions or bad decisions. If you make good decisions, a lot beautiful things are going to happen in your life. If you make bad decisions, a lot of bad things are going to happen in your life.”

Vitale urged club members to pursue their dreams and their goals.

His advice: “Don’t ever, ever let the word ‘can’t’ be a part of your life.”

The Vitale family has donated a total of $60,000 in scholarships to the Boys and Girls Club in the last 12 years.

Contact Maggie Pahos at [email protected].