ORLANDO (March 26, 2009) -- Fan voting is now underway for the first Central Florida Fan Awards Network (FAN) event honoring local legends from high school, college and professional sports. The gala event will take place on Sunday, May 31 at a venue to be announced on April 1.

Until then, fans can vote online at FanAwards.com in an assortment of awards categories designed to honor athletes and coaches from numerous sports and at various levels in the Orlando area. In addition, awards will be handed out to celebrate inspirational and humanitarian stories from the Central Florida region.

Four candidates for each award have been selected by the FAN nominations committee, which is comprised of local sports media and sports legends and led by Bill Buchalter, a longtime local sports writer and a member of the Florida Sports Hall of Fame.

Each award nominee is featured on FanAwards.com with a profile that includes biographical information, statistics, photographs and video.

A media reception for all nominees, presenters, celebrities and VIPs will take place prior to the Central Florida FAN show, which will be broadcast online and by local media outlets. There will also be a VIP cocktail reception and silent charity auction prior to the event.

The Central Florida FAN awards show is produced by Fan Awards Network, which honors high school, college and professional athletes nationwide through a network of premier local sports awards shows.

Additional information about the Central Florida FAN Awards event is available at FanAwards.com.