Golf Tournament History

“It’s a little late to be concerned about having the best health care facilities in your community when you are sitting in the emergency room of your community hospital with a sick or injured child.”  Having this thought in mind, Randy Bender decided to sponsor a golf tournament in 1999 to benefit the INOVA Alexandria Hospital’s Pediatrics and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to ensure that the community would have the best health care possible for its children.  In the first five years of the tournament, over $30,000 was raised for the Bender Group Fund at Inova Alexandria Hospital. More recently, over $18,000 was raised for renovations in the Rehab Center and the Infusion Center at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital.

In 2004, the Bender Group and Inova Mount Vernon Hospital joined together to honor the memory and community contributions of Mr. Lou Genuario, Sr. Lou served as a member of the Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Development Council from 1998 into 2003, resigning due to health issues.  In 2001, he was responsible for overseeing the construction of the Inova Rehabilitation Center's Therapeutic Recreation Pavilion, which allows rehab patients to enjoy outdoor activities such as wheelchair basketball and gardening.  With Lou at the helm, many local businesses came together and offered their time, money and supplies to construct this beautiful pavilion. The proceeds from the 2004 tournament were used, in honor of Lou, to benefit the Inova Rehabilitation Center, which is located at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital.

In 2005, the tournament raised money for the renovation of the Infusion Center at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. The Center is located on Unit 3B within the hospital and provides chemotherapy and other infusion and injection services on an outpatient basis. The transformation of the Infusion Center provides a more healing, peaceful enviroment. The renovation incorporated the use of color, texture, lighting and original healing art techniques by local artists along with the purchase of new beds, chemotherapy chairs, monitoring equipment and individual entertainment units to help ease the long hours many patients spend in treatment.

In 2006 and 2008, the tournament again raised money for Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. In 2006, the proceeds were used to refurbish and upgrade the pediatric pre and post surgery patient areas, including the installation and purchase of original artwork and individual entertainment units, and rocking chairs. Then in 2008, the proceeds were used to help the hospital in its renovation and refurishment of the Emergency Room.

Breast cancer touches us all. Every one of us knows or is aware of someone with breast cancer. Without fundraising, we would not have the monies and support dedicated to curing cancer worldwide. Education, knowledge, research, medical advancements, tools for doctors to care for the insured and medically uninsured women and men come from donations, grants and fundraising for the cure. This issue became personal when Randy's wife April was diagnosed with breast cancer. So in 2007, the tournament net proceeds were donated to the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure and in 2009 to the Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Women's Imaging Center to help purchase a stereotactic breast biopsy machine.

The golf tournament is held annually on the first Monday in June at the Mount Vernon Country Club. The sign-in starts at 11 am and coincides with the putting contest and lunch. Tee times for the tournament start at 1 pm and refreshments are provided on the course. A Spectacular Buffet dinner is served around 5:30 pm followed by an Awards Ceremony. 

While providing golfers with a fun-filled day, the event also demonstrates the community’s support for our local hospitals. The needs of our rapidly growing community are straining their resources. This fundraiser is the Bender Group’s way of showing support for our medical facilities. 

The next golf tournament will be held on June 7th, 2010 at the Mount Vernon Country Club.