When the task is raising money for children battling cancer, ESPN's Dick Vitale is an MVP

SARASOTA — Several years ago, Dick Vitale read a story about a local man winning a lottery.

Time for the ESPN college basketball analyst and Lakewood Ranch resident to swing into action.

When the cause is kids battling cancer, it’s never difficult for Vitale to pick up the phone.

Not knowing the man, Vitale spoke about his annual Gala, which has raised nearly $55 million for pediatric cancer research in the 17 years of the event. Would you be willing to help? Vitale asked the man

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That’s all it took. The lottery winner was officially aboard what Vitale calls “our express.” A train in high gear. “He’s come through for us the last three or four years,” Vitale said.

A Vitale cold-call doesn’t stay that way for long when the person on the other end of the line senses the passion in the voice of the 83-year-old for pediatric cancer research.

It was that way for Mat Ishbia, the former Michigan State basketball walk-on who became a billionaire in business. Mostly sitting at the end of the Spartan bench during his time at the school, Ishbia knew of Vitale, though he had never met him.

Two years ago, coach Tom Izzo put the two in touch. Vitale took it from there. Once he had spoken to Ishbia, the Dick Vitale Gala had another $1 million in its kitty.

“It’s 24/7,” Vitale said, “or you can’t get the numbers we’re talking about.” With a goal set of $7 million for last year’s Gala, a record $11.1 million was raised. “The first thing that crossed my mind (after last year’s Gala),” Vitale said, “was how in the world can you possibly come close to that the following year?

“Well, I’m telling you right now that I am really optimistic. I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to stay right where we were last year.”

Raising the bar

Every year Dick Vitale raises the bar of money raised at his Gala, and every year, the generosity of people, both the rich and not-so-rich, make it happen. It’s a combination of Vitale’s passion for the cause, as well as the cause itself.

“It’s kids with cancer,” he said. “That’s why they’re so willing to give. People get touched. The letters I get after my Gala are just unbelievable.” Next month’s Gala will honor David Robinson, Buster Posey, and John and Patrick McEnroe.

At every Gala, there’s a point when stories of these cancer victims compel many attendees to reflexively grab their checkbooks and donate on the spot. Others already have done their part.

Vitale secured $1.5 million from the Jeff Gordon Foundation. Recently, Vitale had lunch with Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, who told him, “because of your passion, it’s not just a guy putting his name on something.

“Count me in. I’m going to give $1 million.” The gesture brought Vitale to tears. Another man, a Florida Gator fan and businessman, who donated $12.6 million to Gator Boosters, the single largest financial gift in the organization’s history, was contacted by Vitale.

The man donated, and even bought a table to this year’s Gala, which is, once again, sold out. “The thing I have going for me now is name recognition,” Vitale said. “The event has tremendous momentum. No question about it.”

'The best thing I've ever done in my life'

A momentum created by the sheer force of Vitale’s will. “It doesn’t happen by just a phone call,” he said. Vitale is at it daily, mailing out videos, letters, and packages of newspaper articles on the Gala.

He has a list of hundreds of names he reaches out to for help. “A big list of people that we save and we contact through the course of the year,” Vitale said. He readily admits he couldn’t get it done without the help of Mary Kenealy and Janet Allen, the Gala’s executive directors, who constantly blast out emails, “which help me big time in reaching potential donors.”

When in town, Vitale can be seen every morning at the First Watch restaurant in Lakewood Ranch, surrounded by books and basketballs and tee-shirts. Every dollar of every item sold goes to the V Foundation, which has raised more than $300 million for cancer research since its inception 30 years ago.

Nearly $55 million of that has come from the Dick Vitale Gala. The event’s namesake, who admitted his own battles with cancer have made him more obsessed than ever, said he’s had a career “people dream about.”

“But this is, by far, the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

(The 18th Annual Dick Vitale Gala is May 5th at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota. And while the event has sold out, every Gala brings cancellations. To get on a ticket waiting list, contact Mary Kenealy at (941) 350-0580. Anyone wanting to help Vitale in his fight against pediatric cancer with a donation can do so at DickVitale.com.)

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: ESPN's Dick Vitale is MVP at raising money for cancer victims at gala