The Seventh Annual Dick Vitale Gala will honor Wright (pictured above - center) and fellow college coaching greats Lou Holtz and Gary Williams

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova University head men’s basketball coach Jay Wright is one of three college coaching greats who will be honored by The V Foundation for Cancer Research – one of the nation’s leading cancer research fundraising organizations – at the Seventh Annual Dick Vitale Gala presented by Mountain Dew. Wright, along with former University of Maryland head men’s basketball coach Gary Williams and Hall of Fame college football coach Lou Holtz will be recognized for their support of the V Foundation.

The Gala, hosted by ESPN’s Hall of Fame Sportscaster Dick Vitale, will take place Friday, May 18, 2012, at the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota, Fla. Net proceeds for the event will help fund pediatric cancer research.

Since its inception in 2006, the event has raised over $6.5 million for pediatric cancer research.  This year, net proceeds from the Gala will benefit pediatric cancer research initiatives at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and Shands Cancer Center in Gainesville through The V Foundation.  The V Foundation has awarded $6.16 million in research grants in the state of Florida.

About The V Foundation

The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $120 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. Administrative and fundraising expenses are paid by the Foundation's endowment. The Foundation awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

About Villanova University

Since 1842, Villanova University’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others.  There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's five colleges – the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing and the Villanova University School of Law. As students grow intellectually, Villanova prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.