Welcome back to Bucholtz Sports Media! This post is free for everyone thanks to our premium subscribers, who you can join here. Now, on to the news...
Dick Vitale raises record $21 million for pediatric cancer research at his 21st gala, and does so amidst new cancer battle
There are many people in the sports world who do great things in the charitable realm. But ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale stands out, not just for the longevity of his commitment to supporting pediatric cancer research, but for the incredible passion he's shown for this cause and for the people he's helping. That was on full display at the 21st Dick Vitale Gala last Friday, which raised a record $21 million for pediatric cancer research (well above the night's goal of $14 million) through the V Foundation, bringing the total Vitale has raised (through this event and other efforts) to more than $126 million, which has supported more than 264 research grants:
Remarkably, the 86-year-old Vitale was able to hold court as usual despite new health struggles. He revealed in April that a routine screening had led to another cancer diagnosis for him, his fifth overall. And as Matt Baker wrote at The Athletic, countless people involved with the gala did their best to reduce the demands on Vitale, from Kevin Negandhi trying to take over a press conference to save Vitale's voice to organizers trying to have Vitale walk slowly and sit down to conserve his energy. But Vitale still threw just as much into this himself as you'd expect, and spoke both at the news conference and at the gala itself about how inspiring the kids he's worked with are to him:
Negandhi admittedly filibustered a news conference so Vitale would have less time to speak and more strength for later. That, to the surprise of no one who has heard Vitale in his 46 years on ESPN, didn’t work.
Vitale took his time in front of the microphone, citing the treatment stats of the kids and young adults in the first two rows with the same ease as he recited the resumes of gala honorees Tom Izzo or Kelvin Sampson. Josh Fisher’s 1,200 rounds of chemotherapy. Tatum Parker outlasting bone cancer to become a grade-school teacher.
...A few minutes later, it was Vitale’s turn to speak. He held the stage for 12 minutes, pleading for pediatric cancer research funds so the future looks better than the present. He thanked the children that, after all these years, are now supporting him.
“I see them, and I cheer up,” Vitale said. “The messages they’ve shared in my battle are unbelievable.”
Jack Nelson of local newspaper The Sarasota/Siesta Key Observer got some great quotes on Vitale from a few of the past and present honorees in his writeup:
“We want to do it for him, because we understand how important it is to him,” [Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom] Izzo said. “And then you learn how important it is to you as your family members go through (cancer). This is a labor of love. That’s why everybody’s here.”
...“He’s one of those unique individuals who has the ability to rally people around a cause,” said Geno Auriemma, the Connecticut women’s basketball coach. “Not everybody has the passion to follow through on what they say… He puts his time and effort into the things he believes in.”
Vitale certainly does put that effort in, promoting these events and other fundraisers every chance he gets, and his commitment to raising money for pediatric cancer research is heartfelt. I had the chance to speak to him in 2021 about why his fundraising work matters so much to him, and he said there this is even more important to him than anything he's done as a coach or broadcaster:
“I’m totally obsessed with raising dollars for kids battling cancer. My life is now in its final chapter, and the people who have been so good to me over the years, fans, ESPN, all the people I’ve worked with over 42 years, that’s half of my life now with ESPN. I’ve had a lot of success and a lot of honors have come my way, Hall of Fames and broadcasting and basketball and various others. I just feel that at this state of my life, I want to give back. I love young kids, I love young people.”
...“People wonder why I’m so obsessed, and I tell them ‘I’ve spoken at several funerals.’ I’ve spoken all over the country through the Washington Speakers Bureau for many years, corporate lineups, black-tie events, political banquets, you name it. The toughest speech ever, ever, is when a parent asks you to speak at a funeral for their child. …[Raising money to help sick kids] is not just a one-time thing, it’s the story of my life now.”
These research fundraising efforts absolutely are a big part of the overall story of Vitale's remarkable life. And it goes beyond just the dollars, too; a key part of these events is Vitale's "All-Courageous Team" of kids battling cancer, and the recognition and support those kids get from this (as well as chances to meet big sports names) can be huge for them:
The impact of that recognition was shown this year in a letter from All-Courageous alum Emily Ayers, now 17 and cancer-free, who wrote Vitale earlier in April. He posted her moving letter to X then:
To open this gala, ESPN's Josh Krulewitz read excerpts from that letter while Ayers (present in the front row) was asked to stand. In that message, she wrote "I always say that in order to achieve something, you have to have a team behind you that supports and loves you. That’s exactly what you and the V Foundation are to us kids. Now it’s our turn to reverse the roles, support and be there for you during your own battle.” And afterwards, she told Baker she thinks it's critical for those Vitale has supported to rally around him now:
“There’s always positives out of it,” Ayers said. "Us kids can now turn it around and support him after he supported us for so many years and continues to do that. I just think it truly shows his heart when he’s fighting and he still tries to help us kids.”
Congratulations to Vitale on a remarkable fundraising success. It's amazing to see him keeping up this amidst his own health struggles (including new immunotherapy treatments), but it shows just how important this cause is to him. And I wish him the absolute best in his own battle.
Update, May 9: Vitale had some great news to share on his treatment today:
You can find more on Vitale and how to support his fundraising efforts at his website.
