Wills Group Celebrates 100 Years with $500,000 in Grants to Southern Maryland Nonprofits

Six local organizations receive grants through the Blackie Wills Community Leadership Fund, continuing Wills Group’s longstanding commitment to Southern Maryland

LA PLATA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wills Group, parent company of Dash In, Splash In and SMO Motor Fuels, today announced $500,000 in 100^th Anniversary Grants to six nonprofit organizations serving communities across Southern Maryland.

The grants are part of Wills Group’s year-long celebration of its 100^th anniversary and reflect the family-owned company’s longstanding commitment to supporting communities it has called home since its founding in 1926. Funding is being distributed through the Blackie Wills Community Leadership Fund to organizations addressing critical community needs, including food insecurity, housing, education and inclusive programming.

“Southern Maryland has been home to Wills Group for 100 years, and our story is deeply connected to the people and communities here,” said Julian B. (Blackie) Wills III, President, CEO and Chairman of Wills Group. “As we celebrate this milestone, we wanted to recognize organizations that are doing meaningful work every day to strengthen our communities. These grants are an investment in their work and in the region that has supported our family and our company for generations.”

Organizations receiving Wills Group 100^th Anniversary Grants include:

Angels Watch Shelter/Catholic Charities – $100,000: Funding will support temporary housing and services for families in Southern Maryland. Angel’s Watch provides emergency shelter, comprehensive case management and connections in social services for individuals and families in need.

Charles County Charitable Trust – $100,000: Funding will help the Trust continue supporting local nonprofit organizations serving Charles County through grants, professional development and collaborative partnerships.

College of Southern Maryland – $50,000: Funding will support three initiatives, including two radiation therapy scholarships and The Hawk Fund, which invests in new initiatives and helps address emerging needs at the college.

Farming 4 Hunger – $100,000: Funding will support refrigeration and freezer equipment, mobile meal operations, protein production programs and other resources that help Farming 4 Hunger provide locally grown food and community programming throughout Southern Maryland.

LifeStyles of Maryland – $100,000: Unrestricted funding will support LifeStyles of Maryland’s programs and services for individuals and families who are underserved throughout Southern Maryland.

Melwood, Inc. – $50,000: Funding will support Camp Accomplish, Melwood’s inclusive summer camp for children and teens with and without disabilities and chronic health conditions. Wills Group has a longstanding relationship with Melwood and its Camp Accomplish program.

“Camp Accomplish is a place where children who live with disabilities and chronic health conditions — and those who don't — have opportunities to grow, laugh, shine, and belong. We are incredibly proud that the Wills Group is part of our community and grateful for their longstanding partnership with Melwood. Their support is helping us create the kind of meaningful experiences that change and shape lives, while strengthening the community we are all committed to serving," said Larysa Kautz, president & CEO of Melwood.

The $500,000 investment builds on Wills Group’s longstanding commitment to community engagement and partnerships across Southern Maryland. As Wills Group celebrates a century of Keeping Lives in Motion, the company continues to invest in organizations and initiatives that strengthen the communities where its employees, customers and neighbors live and work.

About Wills Group, Inc.

Headquartered in La Plata, Maryland, Wills Group is Great Place to Work Certified™ and has nearly 300 retail locations across the Mid-Atlantic region, including Dash In, Splash In, and SMO Motor Fuels. A family-owned company since 1926 with expertise in convenience retailing, fuels marketing, and commercial real estate, Wills Group prides itself on keeping customers’, employees’ and communities’ Lives in Motion. For more information about Wills Group, visit willsgroup.com.