The Florida Gators basketball team has another challenge to win, but this one won’t be on the court.
Coach Billy Donovan is one of 14 NCAA men’s basketball coaches selected in ESPN’s The Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge.
The challenge is to get the most votes on the website by March 11, and Infiniti will award $100,000 to a charity of the coach’s choosing and $10,000 to the other coaches.
Donovan’s charity is the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation, which is in partnership with UF and Shands at UF to build a children’s hospital in Gainesville. The foundation was named after the founder’s 3-year-old son who died in 2007 after an accidental medical overdose.
“Children’s needs are more unique; they aren’t little adults,” said Linda Michalisin, a spokeswoman for the foundation.
Michalisin said a pediatric emergency room will open in July in the old Shands emergency room, which will lead to a full hospital in upcoming years.
“It’s a project that has come from a dream to a reality,” she said.
Since the organization launched shortly after Sebastian’s death, it has raised more than $7 million.
MIchalisin said that with the help of Donovan and support of the community, cases like Sebastian’s will be prevented.
“To be able to take a tragedy and turn it into a catalyst for positive change is amazing,” she said.
The 14 teams were selected based on ESPN’s “Game of the Week” schedule, according to Ray Daniels of Infiniti’s product communications.
Infiniti, which is sponsoring the event, is a partner with NCAA men’s basketball.
This is the first year the Coaches Challenge has happened.
Fred Demarest, assistant athletics director for communications for men’s basketball, said it is a great opportunity for the University Athletic Association to make a positive impact and to continue helping the community.
He said Donovan has been involved with the foundation and respects what it stands for.
“It is something he was happy to bring awareness to the local and national levels,” he said.
Donovan was in the lead as of Thursday night with 42 percent of the vote. He had an eight percent lead on John Calipari, coach for the University of Kentucky.
“We’re Gators,” Michalisin said. “We can’t lose to Kentucky.”
Students can vote once a day through March 11 at promo.espn.go.com/espn/contests/infiniti/2011/.
