MILWAUKEE (AP) Patrick Baldwin Jr., one of the nation's top recruits in his class, says he will play college basketball for his father at Milwaukee. The 6-foot-9 forward is rated as the nation’s No.
The 2021 Dick Vitale Gala final fundraising numbers are in, and they are large.
The gala raised $6.5 million for The V Foundation for Cancer Research, specifically pediatric cancer.
“I am ecstatic over the support we have received during this challenging year,” Vitale said in a release. “We are proud to have hosted some big-time celebrities and honorees. On behalf of my team at Mary Kenealy Events and my wife Lorraine, I can’t tell you how appreciative we are of so many people that help kids battling cancer.
The gala has now raised more than $40 million for cancer research over its 16 years.
Dick Vitale headlines 16th annual gala in Sarasota Dick Vitale, Sarasota Gala (Source: WWSB) By Kevin Walsh | May 7, 2021 at 10:57 PM EDT - Updated May 7 at 10:57 PM
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - ESPN Basketball Analyst Dick Vitale headlined his 16th annual gala to raise money for pediatric cancer on Friday.
He brought friends including ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, former WWSB Sports Anchor Kevin Neghandi, Auburn Basketball Coach Bruce Pearl, and Florida Head Football Coach Dan Mullen.
Through tears - lots of tears - Vitale said he hoped to raise $5 million this time around.
And he appeared to be well on his way.
The annual Dick Vitale Gala made a lively return to the Ritz Carlton, Sarasota on May 7.
The 16th annual event, which was held virtually last year, had hundreds of guests mingling at the hotel to support the V Foundation for Cancer Research s mission of pediatric cancer research. The gala has raised more than $37 million since its inception 15 years ago.
Dick Vitale and honorees Dan Mullen, Bruce Pearl, Muffet McGraw and Scott Van Pelt mingled with guests during the cocktail hour before the assembled group moved into the ballroom for the evening dinner and program.
Harry Sayer is the Black Tie Reporter for the Observer. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and previously worked the Black Tie beat for the Observer newspaper in Winter Park and Maitland. You can catch him at one of Sarasota s fundraisers and shindigs.