Eighth Annual Jimmy V Week Brings Awareness, Funds for The V Foundation for Cancer Research

For Immediate Release

Media Contact: Margaret Pentrack
margaretp@intrepidmg.com
412-337-2997

(Cary, NC) – The V Foundation for Cancer Research, one of the nation’s leading cancer research funding organizations, and ESPN are thrilled to announce the eighth annual Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research, beginning December 3, 2014, across all domestic ESPN platforms. The initiative will drive awareness of and donations to The V Foundation for Cancer Research with original content, messaging, graphics, social activation and public service announcements. Jimmy V Week will conclude with the Jimmy V Women’s and Men’s Basketball Classics Presented by Corona. For the women’s matchup, two-time defending national champion and No. 3-ranked Connecticut plays at No. 2 Notre Dame on December 6 at 3:15 p.m. on ESPN. The men’s event will showcase four top college basketball programs – Indiana, No. 6 Louisville, Illinois and No. 12 Villanova – in the 20th annual doubleheader December 9. ESPN and ESPN Radio will offer both games from New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden, beginning with Villanova vs. Illinois at 7 p.m., followed by Indiana vs. Louisville at 9 p.m. Last year’s Jimmy V Week raised $1.8 million, bringing the seven-year total of contributions to more than $8.2 million.

“Each year during Jimmy V Week, we pause to reflect on Jim Valvano’s enduring words and to collectively renew our resolve to fighting this terrible disease,” said John Skipper, President, ESPN. “I am so proud that ESPN has been a leader in this fight for more than 21 years for The V Foundation. Together, with the support of our viewers, we’ve touched countless lives over the past two decades by funding critically-important cancer research programs.”

Jimmy V Week launches December 3 at 7 p.m. ET with a simulcast of former N.C. State University coach Jim Valvano’s 1993 ESPYs speech across ESPN domestic media networks, as well as on the ABC SuperSign in Times Square, New York City. The 13-minute speech will air simultaneously on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes and the Longhorn Network. It will also be available throughout Jimmy V Week on ESPN.com, ESPN3 and jimmyv.org. The simulcast of the speech on all platforms includes an introduction by cancer survivor, Good Morning America host and 2013 Arthur Ashe Courage Award Winner Robin Roberts.