- December 21, 2024
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Oral cancer survivor and pro Football Hall of Fame Member Jim Kelly (center) with Chad Balyo and Lynden Blake
Photo by Janet CombsHostess and host for the annual gala are Lorraine and Dick Vitale, who have smiles that never wavered throughout an event that boasted over 900 guests.
Photo by Janet CombsUniversity of Tennessee Volunteers basketball head coach Rick Barnes signs basketballs at the Dick Vitale Gala.
Photo by Janet CombsCierra and Jareem Dowling with Careylyen and Jerome Tang — Jareem and Jerome are men's basketball coaches from Kansas State.
Photo by Janet CombsMargaret McCaffery, Rutgers Head Coach of Women's Basketball Coquese Washington, husband and Rutgers Law Professor Raynell Brown, and University of Iowa Head Coach Fran McCaffery
Photo by Janet CombsWith a professional baseball career lasting 20 years, retired shortstop Derek Jeter is a special guest at the Dick Vitale Gala.
Photo by Janet CombsDoug Staley and Sheila Miller
Photo by Janet CombsDr. Ken Wasserman with Deputy Leo Egan
Photo by Janet CombsUniversity of Tennessee men's basketball head coach Rick Barnes holds a freshly signed basketball at the Dick Vitale Gala.
Photo by Janet CombsTricia and Jerod Ward, a 6'9" former pro basketball player
Photo by Janet CombsTreslyn Shipley, Scott Gleeson, Sarah Keller, Sadie Keller and Shawn Keller
Photo by Janet CombsMorgan Robinette, Pam Hatz, Dan Hatz, special guest and cancer survivor Ben Robinette, Jamie Robinette and Jack Robinette
Photo by Janet CombsDr. Jeff Blackburn, Linda Miles, Football Hall of Fame and oral cancer survivor Jim Kelly, and Robin Morrison
Photo by Janet CombsRobin and Torrin Bottrell with Mike and Terri Snider
Photo by Janet CombsTom and Madison Dieter with Ryan and Melissa Turner
Tammie Johnson and her dapperly donned sons, Charlie and Zack, with Taylor Castro
Photo by Janet CombsPro football Hall of Fame member Jim Kelly, with cancer survivor Harper Harrell, who just rang the two-year bell in February.
Photo by Janet CombsJenn Addabbo and Dianne Duncan
Photo by Janet CombsAric Alibrio, Darren Lebel, Rob Penders and Matt Brodie
Photo by Janet CombsJade Valdez, Cheryl Finamore, Kim Coliton, Patti Barr and Shell Kaminski
Photo by Janet CombsJohn Coliton, Ned Kaminski, Joe Finamore, Edward Valdez and Steve Barr.
Photo by Janet CombsAmanda and Evan Berlin, with retired Tampa Bay Devil Rays shortstop turned attorney, Jamie Ebling, and wife, Tara
Richard and Francesca Bonte with Sheri and Kevin Hart
Paul Rogalski, John Hoskins and Sam Murgo
Photo by Janet CombsGrant and Jill Goeglein with Sarah and Joe Nichols
Photo by Janet CombsShari and Mike Georgoff
Steve and Lori Rosenfeld with Rick Marcoux and Sue Miccio
Photo by Janet CombsCraig Schroeder, Margaret McCaffery, and Stacy Schroeder, with Darcy and Brad Schaefer
Photo by Janet CombsLorraine Ziff, and her husband, Larry, are active supporters of cancer research.
Photo by Janet CombsLynn and Rick Barry
Annie and Joe Alleva
Janna and Joshua Kim
Natalia and Scott Heberlein with Marzia Romero and David Pitts
Photo by Janet CombsChris Randolph and Alanna Dwarka
Brian and Amanda Hill
Sam and Lauren Williams
Photo by Janet CombsLongtime friends Florence Barakat and Lorraine Vitale
Photo by Janet CombsDick Vitale held his annual V Foundation gala at the Ritz-Carlton on May 3, which boasted signed basketball centerpieces and over 900 guests.
Photo by Janet CombsAthletes, 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.
