There are two golf tournaments planned in the next 60 days in memory of John Henderson to raise money for two charities that were near and dear to his heart, the Special Olympics of Rhode Island and the Jimmy Fund. Henderson was active in the DCP, serving a numbers of years as Chairman and was a well-known and beloved franchise owner prior to his death May 30, 2008.
The 1st Annual John Henderson Invitational Golf Tournament will take place Monday, August 31, 2009, at the Kirkbrae Country Club, Lincoln, RI. Proceeds from the event will be used to construct the John Henderson Sports Education and Training Facility at the new Special Olympics headquarters planned in Smithfield, RI.
For more information about the 1st Annual John Henderson Invitational Golf Tournament or reserve your space call Joe Prazares 401-855-0689, or Chris Prazares 401-497-2696, for a reservation form click here.
The Special Olympics is the world’s largest program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Rhode Island provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Over 2,500 athletes are involved with Special Olympics across the state. Each year, Special Olympics Rhode Island hosts more than 40 tournaments and competitions in 24 different sports.
The Special Olympics Rhode Island, will be building a 14,000 square foot headquarters in Smithfield, RI, that will house the John Henderson Sports Education and Training Facility which will be used to train coaches, athletes and volunteers.
John Henderson started working with the Special Olympic Rhode Island over 20 years ago, he served as a member of the board of directors and was instrumental in helping to develop a long term partnership that has resulted in raising 100’s of thousands of dollars to train these special athletes. Gerri Walters, Public Relations Director of Special Olympics Rhode Island fondly remembers John, “he had the biggest heart anyone could have, he could never say no, these kids always meant a lot to John, and he always delivered for us and them.”
Gerri went on to say, “John started what has turned out to be an ongoing commitment by Dunkin Donuts franchise owners in Rhode Island. They are always there to help the Special Olympics, franchise owner Joe Prazares served on the board and now Chris Prazares is a board member. John Justo and Joe Dutra and other franchise owners are collecting contributions throughout the state.”
On Monday September 21, 2009, the John Henderson Memorial Golf Tournament will take place at the Potowomut Golf Club, Warwick, RI. Proceeds from the event will used to support the Jimmy Fund.
For more information about the John Henderson Memorial Golf Tournament, please call Jeff Tenney at 617-610-4051 or John Batista at (401) 255-1492 or to reserve your space click here.
John Henderson was a strong supporter of the Jimmy Fund since the mid 90’s, when he visited a friend at the Dana Farber Cancer Center, he was so moved by the people he met there, both patients and staff, that he dedicated himself from that day on raising funds to support the Jimmy Fund.
Since 1948, when Dana-Farber founder Dr. Sidney Farber was pioneering early methods of chemotherapy in cramped quarters in the basement of Children’s Hospital, Jimmy Fund contributions have provided the underlying support for innovative cancer research at Dana-Farber.
John started a golf tournament and was chairman for the first eight years, and co-chair until 2007. His tournament, named for another friend who passed away from cancer, raised over five million dollars for cancer research. When John spoke at the 2007 tournament, he told those in attendance “My family has been fortunate not to have been touched by cancer”.
Little did anyone in attendance that night know, but several months later, John would be diagnosed with cancer, and less than four months after the diagnosis, on May 30th, 2008, he would succumb to the disease. At his family’s request, John was buried wearing his Jimmy Fund shirt and hat.
For more information:
