18th Dick Vitale Gala raises record $12.4 million for V Foundation for Cancer Research

SARASOTA - At least John McEnroe was polite about it.

“Can I ask your wife a question, Dick?” the winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles and current ESPN tennis commentator said Friday during the press conference prior to the 18th Annual Dick Vitale Gala at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

Lorraine Vitale sat perhaps 20 feet from McEnroe. “Does (Dick) talk while he sleeps?” he asked, Vitale seated two seats down from McEnroe at the head dais.

“Lucky for me,” Lorraine Vitale replied, “I get eight hours of rest.”

But with the final tally of money raised now official, Dickie V just might start uttering a few words while counting sheep.

“Awesome, baby!” would be first. The 83-year-old ESPN college basketball analyst and Lakewood Ranch resident expressed confidence last year’s record total of $11.1 million raised for pediatric cancer research would be topped at Friday’s event.

But not even Vitale could have imagined a haul of $12.4 million, which pushes the amount raised at the 18 galas to $68.1 million. All of it goes to fighting cancer in children through the V Foundation for Cancer Research.

$2 million donation from Mark and Cindy Pentecost

The total includes a $2 million donation from Mark and Cindy Pentecost. The former is the founder of It Works!, a billion-dollar global company which sells health and wellness products through direct sales, who donated $4 million at two previous galas.

“A magical night, $12.4 million, my National Championship!” Vitale tweeted after learning the final total. The night’s honorees, ESPN tennis analysts John and Patrick McEnroe, Hall of Fame center David Robinson, and former San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey, all were anticipating Vitale’s passionate performance inside one of the Ritz’s ballrooms.

“I’m looking forward to seeing it on display tonight,” said Posey, who teamed with Vitale in 2016 to raise awareness in San Francisco for pediatric cancer research. That same year, Posey and his wife, Kristen, launched the BP28 Foundation, which raises money for research and treatment. A partner with the V Foundation for Cancer Research, the foundation has raised more than $5.5 million.

“It’s inspiring what he does,” Posey said. “How can you not be inspired by it, especially with some of his health struggles he’s had.

“Every time you hear him talk, you hear the emotion in his voice, and I’m kind of the same way. All it takes is for me to start thinking of my own kids.”

The Gala observed the 40-year anniversary of Jim Valvano’s victory as coach of N.C. State over the favored Houston Cougars for the NCAA championship. It also observed the 30-year anniversary of the forming of the V Foundation, not long after the death of Valvano at age 47.

Shooting perhaps the most famous air ball in the history of NCAA title games, as well as becoming one of the original V Foundation board members, Dereck Whittenburg was asked what Valvano might say about the work of Vitale, his good friend.

Since 1993, V Foundation has raised more than $310 million

“He would be ecstatic that Dick has bought in from day one with the V Foundation,” he said. “And it just shows you the love they had for each other. Who would have thought that in 30 years, we’d be making this kind of impact?” Since its inception in 1993, the V Foundation has raised more than $310 million.

After Valvano’s death, ESPN was the central force in forming the V Foundation. “As we started this thing,” Whittenburg said, “Dick raised his hand and said, ‘I’m in.’ Not just was he in. He was all the way in.”

“Maybe I’m wrong,” Vitale said, “but I don’t think we have the V Foundation if (N.C. State) doesn’t win that game. I really don’t.”

Then, turning to Whittenburg, Vitale said, “Dereck, don’t you agree?”

“Whatever you say,” Whittenburg said, “I agree with.”

“His speech (at the 1993 ESPYs),” Vitale said, “combined with that title moment (of Valvano running around the court following the Wolf Pack’s title victory), I think got ESPN to do what they did and start the V Foundation.”

Looking at the 18 cancer survivors on his “All-Courageous Team” sitting in front, Vitale said, “I’m more obsessed, probably now more than ever, to raise money, because I know what you’ve gone through.”

Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes was presented The Dick Vitale Spirit Award. Every day last year, for five months, as Vitale battled health issues, Barnes sent him a daily prayer via text. “Encouraging and inspiring me,” Vitale said, “and many of those times it was when I was down, laying in a hospital. It gave me a lift.”

'In my world, he is the face of college basketball'

Said Barnes, “In my world, he is the face of college basketball.”

Among the night’s honorees, Robinson perhaps was touched closest by cancer. He lost his mother last year to breast cancer.

“It’s so ubiquitous,” the 57-year-old said, “it seems like something we should be able to get our arms wrapped around, and we just can’t seem to do it.

“But I see the work Dick is doing with cancer. And when you face it, you never want to face it alone. And, so, Dick makes sure people are not alone.”

V Foundation CEO Shane Jacobson said that since the origination of the V Foundation, a 32-percent improvement in cancer survivorship has been seen.

Jacobson looked at Vitale, then the cancer survivors in front.

“I said this last year, and I’m going to say it again,” he said. “Dick works 24/7/365 for you. What he’s done is incredible.” Jacobson turned back to Vitale.

“The V Foundation is indebted to you for your leadership and generosity and the way you are saving lives each and every day.”

And giving Lorraine eight hours rest each and every night.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Vitale gala a huge success