ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic Raises $1 Million For The V Foundation
For Cancer Research

The eighth annual ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic, a Team ESPN event held at the Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms in Industry Hills, Calif., raised $1 million in net proceeds for The V Foundation for Cancer Research; the total was announced by George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN and ABC Sports and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks.  Bodenheimer presented the check to Nick Valvano, Chief Executive Officer of The V Foundation and brother of the late Jim Valvano, former North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator who co-founded The V Foundation with ESPN.

Athletes and celebrities gather for the annual ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic. The event raised $1 million for The V Foundation for Cancer Research. (L to R): Nick Valvano, CEO, The V Foundation; Brandi Chastain, soccer athlete; Joe Mantegna, actor; George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN and ABC Sports and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks; Jerry Rice, athlete and Josh Duhamel, actor.
 

Among the athletes and celebrities in attendance were Ray Allen, Dave Annable, Dick Butkus, Brandi Chastain, Don Cheadle, Billy Crudup, Josh Duhamel, Julius Erving, Bruce Jenner, Jim McMahon, Joe Mantegna, Urban Meyer, Rick Pitino, Jerry Rice, Stuart Scott and many more.

“The display of support from celebrities, sponsors and volunteers would make Jimmy V proud,” Bodenheimer said.  “We are all teammates in this fight, a fight that we will win, a fight that is fueled by wonderful events like today. We are getting closer to realizing the dream and beating cancer.”

Valvano added, “Once again, George Bodenheimer and the entire ESPN family have put together an amazing event.  It’s a perfect day with generous people coming together to do great things. We’re humbled that Los Angeles has embraced The V Foundation and by this amazing collection of celebrities who gave up their time to bring such great credibility to our cause.”

The ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic is part of a series of events tied to the 2008 ESPYs, to be held Wednesday, July 16 in Los Angeles. The 16th annual industry-wide sports celebration gathers top celebrities from sports and entertainment to commemorate the past year in sports by recognizing major sports achievements, reliving unforgettable moments and saluting the leading performers and performances. The event will be televised Sunday, July 20 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN HD. Additionally, ESPN Radio’s Don’t Give Up ESPYs V Foundation Auction concludes Wednesday, July 16.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano.  It has raised more than $70 million, and has awarded hundreds of cancer research grants nationwide for all types of cancers. The V Foundation now awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received a top 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for five consecutive years, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee. For more information, visit www.jimmyv.org.

Team ESPN

Team ESPN encompasses ESPN's multi-faceted corporate outreach initiatives, including volunteerism, corporate giving and cause marketing, while utilizing its diverse media assets.  Primary charitable programs include The V Foundation for Cancer Research, SportsFigures, ESPN Play Your Way and Disabled Sports.

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