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Reston couple, Inova honored by Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. Gil and Liz Blankespoor's scholarship program has awarded $860,000 in college tuition to Reston students. By Amy Ayres - Posted October 22, 2026 at 3:29 p.m. About 500 people turned out to support the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia at its annual gala last week. The nonprofit recognized Inova Health and the Reston Scholarship Fund's Gil and Liz Blankespoor with community leadership awards. The 2026 Raise the Region Gala was held at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner on October 16. It was hosted by NBC4's Tommy McFly, and the event raised more than $130,000 through live and silent auctions and donations. "The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia's Raise the Region Gala is a celebration of those who lead with purpose and generosity," said Renée Byng Yancey, the foundation's President and CEO. "We were honored to recognize Inova and Liz and Gil Blankespoor for their exceptional contributions to Northern Virginia and their enduring commitment to community leadership." Inova received the CFNOVA's inaugural Organizational Community Leadership Award for its "extraordinary impact, visionary leadership, and enduring commitment to the people of Northern Virginia," said Harry Klaff, chair of CFNOVA's board of directors. Inova CEO Dr. J. Stephen Jones accepted the award on behalf of the nonprofit, which has served the Northern Virginia community for more than 70 years. "Our mission is to provide world-class health care every time, every touch, to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve, and every word in that is a serious commitment," Jones said. 'We saw the need' The 2026 Individual Community Leadership Award went to Gil and Liz Blankespoor. "From Gil's commitment to public service and entrepreneurship to Liz's work in education, volunteerism, and community engagement, they have consistently invested and created opportunity for others," said Amy Wells Mackay, who is a member of CFNOVA's board of directors. The couple co-founded the Reston Scholarship Fund, which has awarded more than $860,000 in scholarships, sending area students to NOVA Community College or George Mason University. "If you know them, you know that mentorship, relationship building, and a deep belief in the potential of others has helped Gil and Liz cultivate a stronger and more connected Northern Virginia." In accepting the award, Liz recalled getting a phone call from Yancey. "My response to this wonderful news: No way, Renée. No thank you. It is a tremendous honor, but no, no," she said. "Gil and I are just ordinary people. We don't have illustrious resumes, and we certainly didn't begin with a grand plan." But after she and Gil talked, they agreed to accept the honor. "I have come to think that perhaps our ordinariness is precisely the point. The Reston Scholarship Fund began 10 years ago with that one conversation with a hardworking Reston family whose daughter wanted to attend college but could not afford it. We saw the need. We gave the fund Reston's name because we hoped the whole community would feel ownership in it, and they did... We joined the Community Foundation in 2017, and that partnership made everything that followed possible. This year, we awarded our 100th scholarship," she said. "We are still just ordinary people, and if we can do it, so can you," she told gala attendees. Amy Ayres. Editor. Amy Ayres has been the Editor of Northern Virginia Magazine since 2022. She has previously worked for USA Today's magazine group, AOL News, and ABCNews.com. Originally from outside of Boston, she moved to NoVA in 2000. She lives in Reston. trending_up trending. Feeds.

Inova Mount Vernon Hospital earns Magnet with Distinction(R), ancc's highest honor for nursing excellence. Also recognized for 9 "Exemplars" for top performance. Mount Vernon, VA - Inova Mount Vernon Hospital (IMVH) is proud to announce it earned Magnet with Distinction(R), marking the hospital's second Magnet designation. IMVH joins Inova Loudoun Hospital in achieving Magnet's highest honor. Magnet with Distinction is an elite, top-tier recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. While only about 10% of U.S. hospitals achieve Magnet status, Magnet with Distinction recognizes organizations that not only meet the program's rigorous standards but significantly exceed them, demonstrating exceptional performance and outcomes across key measures of nursing excellence and patient care. In addition, Inova Mount Vernon was recognized with 9 exemplars, highlighting performance that exceeded Magnet standards in areas including team member well-being and workplace safety, nursing education, team member satisfaction, patient safety, infection prevention and quality outcomes. "Earning Magnet with Distinction(R) is an extraordinary achievement that reflects the dedication, expertise and compassion of our nurses and care teams," said Alquietta Brown, DNP, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Inova Mount Vernon. "This recognition affirms the culture of excellence we have built together and our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional care to the communities we serve." Magnet designation is the most prestigious nursing credential a healthcare organization can receive and validates that IMVH nurses consistently deliver care at the highest level. Hospitals seeking Magnet recognition must meet rigorous standards in nursing leadership, quality outcomes, patient experience, innovation, professional development and collaborative practice. The designation process includes a comprehensive review of four years of organizational performance data, followed by an extensive site visit. "While Magnet recognition is rooted in nursing excellence, it reflects the collective efforts of every team member, provider and department across the hospital," said Roberta Tinch, MHA, FACHE, President, Inova Mount Vernon. "This achievement demonstrates the strength of our culture, our commitment to continuous improvement and our shared focus on delivering exceptional care to every patient and family who entrusts us with their care." Research shows that Magnet-designated hospitals foster higher levels of nurse engagement and professional satisfaction, leading to improved patient outcomes, lower mortality rates, shorter hospital stays and higher patient satisfaction. To achieve and maintain Magnet status, organizations must demonstrate a strong commitment to professional development and lifelong learning. IMVH supports nurses at every stage of their careers through nurse residency programs, specialty certifications, leadership development opportunities, evidence-based practice initiatives, research programs and educational advancement. Inova remains one of the largest health systems in the nation in which every eligible hospital has achieved Magnet recognition, underscoring its system-wide commitment to nursing excellence and high-quality patient care. Inova Fairfax Hospital was among the first hospitals in the country to earn Magnet recognition and was recently redesignated in 2025, while Inova Loudoun Hospital and Inova Fair Oaks Hospital have maintained Magnet status since 2006 and 2009, respectively. Inova Mount Vernon Hospital first achieved Magnet designation in 2022, and Inova Alexandria Hospital earned its first Magnet designation in 2023. About Inova. Inova Newsroom is Inova, Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area's leading nonprofit healthcare provider. With expertise and compassion, Inova Newsroom partner with its patients to help them stay healthy. Inova Newsroom treat illness, heal injury and look at a patient's whole health to help them flourish. Through its expansive network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, and outpatient services, Inova provides care for more than 1 million unique patients every year. Total patient visits exceed 4 million annually, demonstrating its ability to deliver the best clinical care and ensuring a seamless experience for all who rely on Inova Newsroom for their healthcare needs. Consistently ranked and recognized as a national healthcare leader in safety, quality, and patient experience, Inova's world-class care is made possible by the strength and breadth of its network, its 26,000 team members, its technology, and its innovation. Using objective measures of patient experience, clinical outcomes, and safety, Modern Healthcare ranked Inova #3 in the nation among large health systems. Inova was also named the 2025 Health System of the Year by Press Ganey, recognizing its excellence in patient care, team member engagement, and commitment to continuous improvement. Inova is home to Northern Virginia's only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and provides high-quality healthcare to each person in every community Inova Newsroom is privileged to serve - regardless of ability to pay - every day of their life. More information about Inova can be found at Inova.org.