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Dick Vitale to headline annual Bishop’s Dinner

Catholic Globe report

Bishop R. Walker Nickless and The Catholic School Foundation of the Diocese of Sioux City are proud to announce college basketball analyst, Dick Vitale, as the featured speaker for the 15th Annual Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools.

This year’s dinner is scheduled for Oct. 9 at the Sioux City Convention Center.

According to Kristie Arlt, diocesan director of communications, the Bishop’s Dinner for Catholic Schools has a strong tradition of creating a vital source of revenue for the 17 school systems in the diocese.

Almost $150,000 was raised at the 2010 dinner.

“Raising money for our Catholic schools while bringing attention to our outstanding educators is a priority of Bishop Nickless and our Diocese,” said Arlt. “We are blessed to have the support of so many who value Catholic schools in Northwest Iowa.”

Dan Ryan, superintendent of Catholic Schools, echoed Arlt’s sentiments.

“Our schools help build solid foundations of faith for our young people,” he said. “Having events like the Bishop’s Dinner helps ensure the resources are available to build our children into great pillars of our communities.”

To have someone of Dick Vitale’s caliber speak at this year’s dinner is exciting, Arlt said.

“He has a wonderful story to tell and we’re looking forward to witnessing his outgoing personality live on stage,” she said.

Following a successful college and pro-coaching career, Vitale joined ESPN in 1979 just after the network’s launch. Vitale called ESPN’s first-ever major NCAA basketball game – Wisconsin at DePaul – on Dec. 5, 1979 and since then he’s called over a thousand games. He has been a college basketball analyst for ABC since 1988, and has also covered the NBA Finals and the 192 Summer Olympics for ABC Radio.

Vitale is also a columnist for Basketball Times, has served as a guest columnist for USA Today since 1991 and has been a featured guest on numerous sports radio station across the country.

He graduated from Seton Hall University with a bachelor of science degree in business administration and earned a master’s in education from William Paterson College. Vitale and his wife, Lorraine, have two daughters who both attended Notre Dame on tennis scholarships and both graduated with MBAs. His proud involvement at Notre Dame includes the endowment of the Dick Vitale Family Scholarship, presented annually to an undergraduate who participates in Notre Dame sports or activities and doesn’t receive financial aid.

The cost of Vitale’s appearance in the diocese is being underwritten by sponsors.

Tickets for the Bishop’s Dinner will go on sale Monday, Aug. 26 and can be purchased online at www. scdiocese.org or by calling (712) 255-7933. Tickets are $125 per person. Those purchasing tickets can designate which Catholic school throughout the diocese they would like their funds allocated to if they so choose.