LA PLATA, Md. – The Wills Group, a family-owned company headquartered in La Plata, Maryland, raised more than $500,000 at its inaugural Blackie Wills Golf Classic and Gala, a two-day event that took place at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland, on September 10 and 11.
This year’s inaugural event supports The Blackie Wills Community Leadership Fund, which honors Julian Blacklock “Blackie” Wills, the third president and CEO of The Wills Group, and carries on his commitment to community and civic engagement.
Formed in 2016 in commemoration of The Wills Group’s 90th anniversary, the fund has donated more than $450,000 in the past year to more than 40 charitable organizations across the Mid-Atlantic region to further the company’s community engagement efforts to end childhood hunger, and ensure safe and healthy homes. Organizations supported by the Blackie Wills Community Leadership Fund during the past year include Farming4Hunger, a Southern Maryland nonprofit that provides 26% of the fresh food that goes to the Maryland Food Bank; Jude House, an organization that provides housing and treatment for men and women in recovery; and Lifestyles of Maryland, a Southern Maryland nonprofit that serves approximately 14,000 individuals by providing emergency assistance, transportation, housing and job training.
“The level of support we received for this year’s Blackie Wills Golf Classic & Gala is remarkable,” said Lock Wills, chairman, CEO and president of The Wills Group. “We thank our sponsors and everyone who contributed to the success of this inaugural event. Their commitment is to be applauded and will result in an important source of funding for worthy charitable organizations across the communities we serve.”
The Blackie Wills Community Leadership Fund is a component of The Wills Group’s community engagement efforts, which are focused on helping to eliminate childhood hunger, support safe and healthy homes, and create opportunities for education and economic growth. Since 2006, The Wills Group has donated more than $1.9 million to communities across Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
The Wills Group is the parent company of SMO Energy, Dash In Food Stores, Splash In ECO Car Wash, SMO Motor Fuels, and operates Potomac Energy Holdings (PEH) as part of a joint venture with Motiva Enterprises LLC.