Vitale Gala helps raise $12.5M for V Foundation

(L-R) Event emcee Kevin Neghandi, Hannah Storm and Dick Vitale (Mike Soltys/ESPN)

Vitale (seated) and Chairman, ESPN, Jimmy Pitaro (R), who spoke at the gala, greet "Good Morning America's" Michael Strahan. (Mike Soltys/ESPN)

Rob Lemley (L), who produces the event along with Marc Franklin (not pictured), cues videos as ESPN Communications VP Josh Krulewitz introduces celebrity attendees. (Mike Soltys/ESPN)

ESPN Corporate Citizenship's Kevin Martinez (L) and Disney World’s Tajiana Ancora-Brown are joined by the V Foundation’s point person Lisa Kovlakas. (Mike Soltys/ESPN)

SARASOTA, Fla. — This year’s 20th annual Dick Vitale Gala, held Friday, has helped raise an impressive $12.5 million for cancer research. It was announced that over $100 million has been granted to researchers from the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund at the V Foundation.

ESPN and The Walt Disney Company sponsored the event. SportsCenter’s Hannah Storm and ABC’s Good Morning America’s Michael Strahan were among the star-studded honorees.

GMA’s report:

ABC’s World News Tonight’s report: