During her 95 years of life, Ethel Groh Webster Williams generously gave her time, talent, and treasures to the community. After her passing, Ethel’s legacy continues to make an impact through her bequest to three county institutions.

A $5.1 million legacy gift from the Ethel Groh Webster Williams Trust, with $1.7 million each awarded to Anne Arundel Community College Foundation (AACCF), Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation (LHAAMCF), and University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation (UM BWMCF), her generosity will make a lasting impact on our community.

“This generous act of philanthropy reflects Ethel’s unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of her beloved community,” said Lois Simpson, a longtime friend of Ethel. “Her generous gift ensures that Ethel’s legacy lives on and that the community will flourish as a place of compassion, education, and healing.”

All three organizations collaborated to nominate the Trust for the award and each said the gift will be transformative to their respective institutions and will ensure individuals in Anne Arundel County can continue to access critical health care services and educational resources.

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) president Dawn Lindsey, Ph.D. said that the gift to AACCF has funded an endowed scholarship — the Future Nursing Professionals Scholarship in Memory of Ethel and Neil Williams — to support eligible students accepted into AACC’s top-ranked Registered Nursing degree program. “This incredible gift will provide scholarships to approximately 40 registered nursing students each year who will learn in AACC’s state-of-the-art facility on the Arnold campus,” she said. “Through the generosity of the Ethel Groh Webster Williams Trust, these future caregivers will positively impact thousands of lives throughout their careers in Anne Arundel County.”

Ethel’s personal experiences with her father’s and late husband’s heart conditions inspired her to support cardiac care programs in Anne Arundel County. Both LHAAMC and UM BWMC said her gifts to the institutions are funding new cardiac care advancements at each.

Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center is enhancing its advanced cardiac care programs under the leadership of Dr. David Caparrelli, LHAAMC’s Chief Cardiac Surgeon, who offers a unique pain-free open-heart surgery using cryotherapy to freeze nerve endings, reducing the need for opioid use and dependency. While this innovative approach is highly effective, the necessary supplies are costly and not currently covered by insurance.

“It is the generosity of Mrs. Williams’ gift that is helping to fund this new method of pain management for open-heart surgery without creating a financial burden for patients,” said Elizabeth Gross, CFRE, LHAAMC Foundation Vice President “Ethel’s remarkable philanthropy is a testament to her kindness, generosity, and consideration for others.”

Kathy Burk, Vice President of Development and Executive Director of BWMC Foundation, echoes LHAAMC’s gratefulness and explained Ethel’s gift is making it possible for University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center to build new cardiac catheterization labs and renovate an existing one to handle the rising cardiac patient volume.

Ethel’s legacy gift will transform these three institutions, reflecting her deep love for the community and her dedicated commitment to improving lives and fostering a better future for all.

Ethel Groh Webster Williams was nominated by Anne Arundel Community College Foundation, Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation, and the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Foundation.

Learn more about Ethel’s Legacy at the 24th Annual Celebration of Philanthropy on October 30th.

CFAAC’s Legacy Award for Planned Giving recognizes philanthropists who have made a significant contribution to one or more local nonprofits using a planned gift.

Back to Legacy Award for Planned Giving