Infiniti Presents University of Florida's Billy Donovan's Designated Charity with $100,000 Check for Winning the Inaugural Coaches' Charity Challenge

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FRANKLIN, TN--May 2, 2011: Infiniti today presented a $100,000 check in the name of University of Florida men's basketball coach Billy Donovan's designated charity, the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, for winning the inaugural Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge.  Donovan received an astonishing 51 percent of the fan-based voting over a six-week period.  

Thirteen other coaches' charity organizations will receive $10,000 donations on behalf of Infiniti.  The check was presented to the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation founders Horst and Luisa Ferrero in a ceremony held at Infiniti headquarters in Franklin, Tenn., and included a taped message from Donovan.

"We congratulate Coach Donovan, his supporters at the University of Florida, and especially the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation for its outstanding efforts in supporting improvements in pediatric healthcare," said Ben Poore, vice president, Infiniti Business Unit.  "We want to thank all our participating coaches and congratulate their teams for outstanding seasons."

"I really appreciate all the people that voted and got involved in support of the Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge," said Coach Billy Donovan.  "My wife and I feel very privileged to be part of the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation.  The money is certainly going to a terrific cause committed to improving pediatric patient safety and creating a children's hospital at UF."  Coach Donovan has been an avid supporter of the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, rallying the Gator Nation together for the cause.

"Coach Donovan's dedication to the Foundation has certainly proven that inspiration is contagious through the Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge," said Horst and Luisa Ferrero.  

"We are extremely thankful to Infiniti for creating a platform that allowed college basketball fans around the country an opportunity to participate in an online initiative that not only benefited our Foundation, but also so many wonderful causes, raising funds and critical awareness for each.  Coach Donovan's win is a huge victory for the children of our Gainesville community and the surrounding areas."

The Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge began January 21 and ended March 11, with fans, alumni and consumers voting on a special site at www.espn.com/infiniti for their favorite of 14 coaches participating in the Infiniti-sponsored ESPN GameDay Games of the Week.  The program was built with Infiniti's partnership with the National Association of Basketball Coaches Foundation (NABC Foundation, Inc.).  In addition to Donovan, the additional participating coaches and their charities were:

• Rick Barnes, University of Texas, Neighborhood Longhorns Program
• John Calipari, University of Kentucky, Samaritan's Feet
• Jamie Dixon, University of Pittsburgh, Maggie Dixon Foundation
• Scott Drew, Baylor University, Scott & Kelly Drew Scholarship Fund
• Seth Greenberg, Virginia Tech, American Heart Association
• Tom Izzo, Michigan State University, Coaches vs. Cancer
• Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University, The Emily Krzyzewski Foundation
• Frank Martin, Kansas State University, Coaches vs. Cancer
• Matt Painter, Purdue University, Special Olympics
• Bill Self, University of Kansas, Bill Self's Assists Foundation
• Rick Stansbury, Mississippi State University, Camp Rising Sun
• Bruce Weber, University of Illinois, Coaches vs. Cancer
• Jay Wright, Villanova University, Coaches vs. Cancer