Dear Friends,

August is National Make-A-Will Month, an annual reminder of the importance of creating and updating your will. A will is more than just a legal task. It’s how you care for your loved ones, protect your legacy, and ensure the causes you believe in—like the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum—remain supported long into the future.

We invite you to explore support for CBMM in your will or estate plans by clicking here. On this recently refreshed site, you will find good information and resources about legacy giving and the range of opportunities at various gift levels and ages.

Our special thanks to Frank Carollo for sharing his story of why he chose to become a member of CBMM’s Lighthouse Legacy Society by making a bequest in his will. We are grateful for his generosity, and the thoughtful commitments of all our Lighthouse Legacy Society members, to help ensure CBMM’s mission for generations to come.

With gratitude,

Katie Blaha
CBMM’s Director of Advancement

Why My Estate Plans Include a Bequest to CBMM

By Frank Carollo
CBMM Member, Volunteer, Donor

I’m supporting the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum through a significant bequest in my last will, not only to further its mission, vision and values, but because it gave me a lifeline when I truly needed it…and a lasting appreciation for the Bay itself.

I retired and came to St Michaels Md., in 2016, following the too-early death of my wife, Mary Ellen Carollo. Grief-stricken and in mourning, I was at loose ends and simply looking for somewhere congenial to deal with that devastating loss.

In coming to terms with that reality, I knew I had to somehow build a new life in my new home. One of the best things I did was to visit CBMM that summer and attend its major events and festivals. I was very impressed with all there was to learn about the Chesapeake Bay, the friendly people I met, and the fun atmosphere of the campus—none of which I expected.

By the next spring I felt like I was starting to heal, and was looking for something meaningful to do while helping other people and giving back to the community. I became a CBMM member, started donating, and went through the volunteer training program—and have been an active member, regular donor, and enthusiastic volunteer in various capacities ever since.

And in the ensuing years, I have come to deeply appreciate CBMM for its stewardship of Bay history and culture, and for how it enriches life in St Michaels and the Bay Hundred area. I have seen, and experienced, first-hand how much it can mean to guests, as well as volunteers and staff.  

And a big plus for me, personally, has been the friends I’ve made, the things I’ve learned, and the fun I’ve had through CBMM. As a lifelong landlubber, I’ve even gotten to know my way around boats! 

So, as one way to show my gratitude to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for everything it’s done for me, I’m remembering it with a tangible and sustaining gift through the significant bequest in my last will. Thank you, CBMM.