Gio’s Story
Giovanni “Gio” Vitrano was a hardworking, blue-collar member of the Leon High School Boys Soccer team and a 2020 Leon graduate, tight with the Tallahassee soccer community he grew up in. Growing up, he poured his seemingly endless energy into every sport he could find — football, baseball, basketball, soccer. “You name it, my brother played it,” his sister Emilee remembers. His former coach at Leon High put it simply: Gio was “a larger than life kind of guy.”
After graduating, Gio enrolled at Tallahassee Community College as an honors student, less than three semesters from his associate’s degree, while working full-time at a local contracting company — well-mannered, easygoing, and quick to make a friend out of anyone he met. He and his father, Ron, shared an especially close bond, one built on their mutual love of competitive sports and, just as often, on Gio’s determination to make the people around him laugh.
When Gio passed away unexpectedly in 2021, his friends, family, and the Tallahassee community rallied together, raising over $30,000 in a single week to start a scholarship fund in his honor. Today, in our sixth year, we look for student-athletes who embody Gio’s spirit — hardworking and well-rounded, not just the best player or the best student.
The Foundation
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation exists to honor Gio’s memory by supporting exceptional student-athletes who demonstrate the same qualities that made him special: leadership, resilience, work ethic, and commitment to his community. Through our scholarship program and annual Gio Cup tournament, we’ve created a sustainable way to turn tragedy into triumph for deserving young people across the Tallahassee area. The foundation is entirely volunteer-run, with every board member donating their time so that as much of every dollar raised as possible goes directly to scholarships.
In November 2021, the Tallahassee community was shaken by the tragic loss of Giovanni “Gio” Vitrano, a beloved 20-year-old former Leon High School soccer star and Tallahassee Community College honors student. Within days, a fundraiser organized by family friend Mike Fahmie raised over $30,000, with support pouring in from strangers who had been touched by Gio’s story. “I’m so overwhelmed by the love that everybody has shown and still does,” said Ron Vitrano, Gio’s father. From that outpouring of love and support, the Giovanni Vitrano Foundation was born — a family’s way of turning grief into a lasting force for good.
Board of Directors
The Giovanni Vitrano Foundation is entirely volunteer-run, with every board member donating their time and expertise without compensation.
Ron VitranoPresident
Emilee CopelandAssociate Director
Mike FahmieVice President
Tom BlockAssociate Director
Ben CopelandAssociate Director
Giovanni Vitrano Foundation President
As Gio’s proud father, Ron cherished every moment on the soccer sidelines, witnessing his son’s passion and determination on the field. It was during these games that Ron cultivated deep connections with coaches, players, and the larger Tallahassee soccer community. He and Gio shared an especially close bond, built on their mutual love of competitive sports and Gio’s constant determination to make the people around him laugh. Through tragedy, he’s channeled his heartbreak into a resolute mission: to keep Gio’s spirited legacy alive by elevating the lives of others in the community.
With multiple Emmy awards under his belt, Ron brings more than just personal commitment to the board. As an Associate Producer for ESPN, he showcases his experience and connections in the sports industry to further the foundation’s goals. His rich history in the industry and his unparalleled dedication to the cause make him an invaluable leader in our mission.
Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Associate Director
"You name it, my brother played it," Emilee says of Gio — she loved going to his games, and shared countless memories with him from the soccer sidelines, cheering him on with all her heart. Their bond, defined by mutual support and love, now propels Emilee’s dedication to the Giovanni Vitrano Foundation. With a pivotal role in the scholarship selection process and a dynamic hand in steering foundation events, Emilee ensures that each endeavor resonates with Gio’s spirit and the foundation’s mission.
Her professional journey in catering sales management has fine-tuned her organizational and management skills, which she seamlessly channels into the foundation’s operations. Outside of her foundation responsibilities, Emilee cherishes life’s beautiful moments with her husband, Ben, and their daughters, Ellie and Madison.
Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Vice President
Mike’s connection with the Vitrano family runs deep, from watching young Gio grow into an exceptional young man to co-hosting a sports radio show with Ron on ESPN Radio in Tallahassee. Their friendship was cemented when Ron served as best man at Mike’s wedding, creating a brotherhood built on shared experiences and unwavering support through life’s triumphs and challenges.
As Vice President, Mike spearheads the foundation’s comprehensive operations, encompassing technology infrastructure and scholarship administration, as well as event coordination and strategic partnerships. His background as a business analyst complements his Emmy Award-winning experience as an Associate Producer at ESPN, bringing both analytical precision and creative vision to the foundation’s mission.
Mike’s leadership was instrumental in the foundation’s launch, organizing the original fundraising campaign that raised over $30,000 in its first week. His systematic approach to building scalable digital infrastructure — from scholarship application systems to donor management platforms — has helped the foundation award over $47,000 in scholarships since 2022.
Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Associate Director
Tom’s illustrious career in broadcasting has always been underpinned by an innate passion for championing the aspirations of student-athletes. Known notably for his roles as an FSU football sideline reporter and play-by-play commentator, Tom’s voice has resonated with countless sports enthusiasts. Beyond the microphone, he’s been instrumental in transforming aspirations into realities, having managed an ambitious university fundraising campaign that offered unparalleled opportunities to its students.
As a member of the Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Board of Directors, Tom channels his vast fundraising experience to amplify the foundation’s mission. By strategizing new avenues for generating resources and nurturing partnerships, Tom is deeply committed to ensuring that deserving student-athletes in the Tallahassee area are presented with the college opportunities they earnestly seek.
Giovanni Vitrano Foundation Associate Director
As Gio’s brother-in-law, Ben brings both personal dedication and technical expertise to the foundation’s mission. His deep connection to the family, combined with his professional background as a technical director, makes him a valuable asset in executing the foundation’s mission.
Ben plays a crucial role in the technical and operational aspects of signature events, including the annual Gio Cup tournament and Scholarship Awards Dinner, helping ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. His skills in audio, video, lighting, and network systems contribute to the production quality of all foundation events.
Beyond event support, Ben plays a key role in the scholarship selection process, bringing a thoughtful perspective to evaluating applications. Married to Emilee, Ben is the proud father of Ellie and Madison, and his dedication to the foundation reflects his commitment to creating a better future for young people in the community.