Charity Golf Tournament Hits Tenth Anniversary, Aims To Raise More

By Katherine Hafner

Tee time at the Mountain View Academy Golf Tournament will mean thousands of dollars in contributions to two different causes this year.

The tournament, now in its tenth anniversary, raises money for the Mountain View Academy Worthy Student Fund, which provides academically motivated kids with financial aid to attend the school.

But this year, a second cause will also benefit from the event.

Families of the Fallen, which provides community outreach to family members of police and firemen killed in the line of duty, will receive 20 percent of the event’s proceeds, said Doug Sumaraga, chief executive officer and president of Igolping, which creates golf technology.

The remaining 80 percent goes to the Worthy Student Fund.

“We want to teach our students to give back to the community,” Sumaraga said.

Sumaraga graduated from Mountain View Academy in 1977, and has since been involved with the school, through coaching golf and sitting as a board member.

He helped start the tournament in 2003, and has since been one of the primary organizers.

This year, the tournament takes place on Aug. 26 at the Silver Creek Valley Country Club in San Jose. While about 60 players have signed up so far, Sumaraga said he hopes the number is raised to almost 100.

He said the event usually raises around $20-25,000, but the goal is to increase that amount every year. The money is raised through sponsors of the tournament as well as player fees.

Van Araujo, a Mountain View resident whose two kids attended the Academy, has played in the tournament just about every year since it began.

He said he is an avid golfer who has played around the world, and likes to get together and play with others for a good cause.

“It’s good camaraderie, going for a good cause,” Araujo said. “We get to contribute to a scholarship – while we compete for the trophy!”

The tournament’s main events are the golf game and a dinner afterward, but there are also raffle prizes, driving range and putting contests and other course games.

Participation in the tournament – including the greens fee, driving range balls, cart rental and a goodie bag – as well as attending the dinner, costs $165 per player. Participants can also choose to participate in one or the other for varying prices.

Sumaraga added that it is a nice experience for people who enjoy golfing to play at the private club, which is usually closed to non-members.

Araujo said he is glad the tournament has a second recipient this year, beyond the Academy.

“We in this country have a tendency to forget that people who get in harm’s way deserve to be remembered,” he said. “This will contribute in a thoughtful, small way.”

Tee-off is at 1:30 p.m., and the dinner begins at 6 p.m.

You can learn more about and register for the tournament here.