Join Us for the 3rd Annual Gio Cup!
October 29 – November 2, 2024
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation proudly presents the 3rd Annual Gio Cup at Chiles High School. Five local schools—Lincoln, Chiles, Leon, Maclay, and Florida High—will showcase their talent in boys’ and girls’ tournaments, promising three days of thrilling soccer action.
Join us in supporting local student-athletes and witnessing the best of Tallahassee’s young soccer talent!
Class of '25 Scholarships
Donate
2024 Gio Cup
Gio Cup T-Shirts
Board of Directors
News
Making an Impact
Martina Silva
2024 Scholarship Winner
“”It’s good to know that my hard work on and off the field has paid off and will help me in the future. This money is a big help for college.”
Lawre Bradley May
2024 Scholarship Winner
“Its means so much, soccer is such a huge part of my life…to know that out of this whole area, people have seen me as a significant part of the soccer culture means so much to me.””
Ethan Stewart
2022 Scholarship Winner
“When I first got the call to varsity my sophomore year Gio was the first person to come to me. He really taught me that in soccer, your team is family and you can’t really have anything like that so being able to receive a scholarship that’s in memory of Gio is awesome. It means I have a part of him that’s always going to be with me.”
Ron Vitrano
Gio’s Dad & Foundation President
“These are great high school students, athletes, pillars of the community. To be able to help out a little bit, I think that’s the key. It helps ease the pain of what happened. Giovanni died six and a half months ago, but to watch these young students and athletes walk away with these awards, it warms my heart.”
Jose Gonzalez
2023 Scholarship Winner
“I’m overwhelmingly happy with winning the scholarship. Thank you to the foundation for this experience, it’s been incredible.”
The Giovanni Vitrano Scholarship
Class of 2024 Winners
Martina Silva (Florida High) - $6,000 Scholarship Winner
Martina Silva, with a 4.65 GPA and leadership roles in prestigious societies like NHS, showcases a unique blend of academic brilliance and athletic talent. Born in Chile and a dynamo in Florida High’s soccer scene, Martina’s journey is a testament to resilience and determination. Her work volunteering at the Tom Brown Animal Shelter underscores her commitment to community service.
Lawre May (Maclay) - $2,000 Scholarship Winner
A Maclay School standout with a 4.52 GPA bound for Auburn, her academic and athletic prowess is just the beginning. Lawre shines across multiple disciplines, participating in National Art Society, Key Club, and more, while also excelling in lacrosse, tennis, and cheerleading. Her dedication has earned her multiple student of the year awards and a place on the Tallahassee Community College Dean’s List.
Meghan Roper (Leon) - $2,000 Scholarship Winner
Meghan Roper, heading to Auburn with a 3.6 GPA, exemplifies leadership as the President of the Dance Marathon and Anchor Club, significantly boosting fundraising efforts. Her role as Leon High School’s soccer team captain and participation in Rho Kappa and the Interact Club highlight her multifaceted involvement and dedication to service.
Class of 2025 Scholarship Information
Who is eligible to apply for our scholarship?
All student-athletes who meet the following criteria are encouraged to apply:
- Played soccer at the Varsity High School or equivalent club level.
- Is a graduating member of the Class of 2024.
- Have a 3.2 GPA or higher as of January 31, 2024.
- Reside in the Tallahassee, FL area. This area includes Leon, Franklin, Gadsden, Wakulla, Jefferson, Jackson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, Lafayette, Suwannee, and Hamilton counties in Florida.
Scholarship applications for the Class of 2025 will open on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 and remain open through January 31, 2025.
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation
Board of Directors
Ron Vitrano
Gio’s Dad, President
Emilee Copeland
Gio’s Sister, Director
Mike Fahmie
Vice President
Tom Block
Director
Chris Petley
Director
THE GIOVANNI VITRANO FOUNDATION
NEWS COVERAGE
Our Foundation has been featured in the Tallahassee Democrat, WCTV (CBS Tallahassee), WTXL (ABC Tallahassee) and more.
Announcing the 2024 Giovanni Vitrano Scholarship Winners!
We're thrilled to announce the distribution of scholarships among our 2024 Giovanni...
2024 Scholarship Winners Announced
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation is thrilled to unveil our 2024 scholarship recipients,...
Lincoln Girls, Maclay Boys Claim 2023 Gio Cups
Tallahassee, FL – The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation proudly hosted the 2023 Gio Cup, a...
Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Welcomes Renowned Figures Tom Block and Chris Petley to its Board of Directors
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation is excited to welcome Tom Block and Chris Petley to its Board of Directors for the 2023-24 academic year. Renowned FSU Football Sideline Reporter Tom Block joins as Director of Fundraising, and Tallahassee Soccer Club’s Chris Petley steps in as Director of Community Outreach. Their combined expertise promises to elevate the foundation’s mission of supporting high school student-athletes in Tallahassee. Read more about their contributions and the foundation’s ongoing impact.
2023 Giovanni Vitrano Memorial Scholarship
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation proudly announced its annual scholarship winners in a heartwarming event at Southwood Community Center. Among the exceptional student-athletes recognized, Jose Gonzalez of Chiles High School clinched the $6,000 Giovanni Vitrano Memorial Scholarship and is set to attend Penn this fall. Betrice Drayton from Rickards High School and RJ Hosay from Maclay School both secured the $2,000 scholarship. Both have exhibited outstanding prowess in soccer and academics alike, with Betrice gearing up to join West Florida College and RJ set to embark on his journey at Florida. These scholarships, commemorating the inspiring Giovanni Vitrano of Leon High School’s Class of 2020, celebrate a legacy of dedication to education, soccer, and community service.
WCTV Covers the Inaugural Gio Cup
Our local CBS Sportscaster Ryan Kelly came by the Inaugural Gio Cup, to help spread the...
How you can help
Join over 400 of our friends, family and community neighbors who have helped raise $30,000 to fund our scholarships. All funds raised go directly to scholarships for graduating seniors.
%