Rockville, Maryland, August 27, 2026— MELE Associates, Inc. (MELE), a veteran-owned government contractor with more than three decades of success serving U.S. federal, state, and local agencies, and international organizations, announced today that the company’s third annual MELE DEFY Charity Golf Tournament raised $140,000 for the cancer research nonprofit Pelotonia.
Since the event’s launch three years ago, the DEFY Tournament has generated $314,000 in funding for cancer research and has grown in participation, sponsorships, and fundraising levels every year. 100% of MELE’s DEFY golf tournament’s funds go to Pelotonia, which is a significant supporter of the cancer research being conducted out of Ohio State University by medical oncologist Dr. Roychowdhury. Dr. Roychowdhury is leading groundbreaking research in precision medicine as it pertains to cancer care.
“My family is very grateful to everyone that supported the tournament this year, but I’d like to recognize The Patrick Schifflett Foundation and The Project Enhancement Corporation (PEC) for being Platinum Sponsors, as well as Eagle Integrated Services for their Gold Level Sponsorship,” stated MELE’s President Al C.
“This tournament is a celebration of my sister Wendy’s spirit and the joy she brought into the world. My family is grateful for the time my sister had with us, and I hope that this event and our community’s support of Pelotonia is making her proud,” he added.
Wendy Chioji lost her battle with cancer in 2019, but left a lasting impact on her family, friends, colleagues, and Pelotonia, a charitable organization with which she had a deep connection. She lived life by her DEFY mantra while encouraging those around her to enjoy life to the fullest each day, and, as she said, to “Eat Pie First.” Read more of her amazing story here.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see so many people—MELE employees, friends and family, partners, and members of our broader community—come together for such an important cause. Through the DEFY Tournament, we’re not only bringing people together, but also making a meaningful difference by supporting Pelotonia and the cancer research and patient care happening through Dr. Roychowdhury at Ohio State University. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished over the past three years, and I’m excited to continue building on that impact for many years to come,” said event organizer and MELE CFO Janice G.
The third annual MELE DEFY Charity Golf Tournament was a great day for a great cause, proving the power that community has to make a real difference. The fourth annual MELE DEFY Charity Golf Tournament will be held on August 16th, 2027, at the Links at Challedon in Mt. Airy, Maryland.
With over 300 employees and offices in Rockville, MD, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque, NM, MELE is a veteran-owned government contractor empowering its customers with innovative solutions for more than three decades. MELE has team members located across the U.S. and has served more than a hundred countries across hundreds of project locations. The company offers technical, engineering, and programmatic support expertise to a host of U.S. federal and international agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, INTERPOL, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. MELE’s services include national security, intelligence, IT/cybersecurity, facility management and engineering, CBRNE defense and nuclear security, emergency response training/management, and mission and program support.
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Steve Surdez
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