August is Make-A-Will Month: a gift of care, love and legacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elyzabeth Marcussen, 443-837-1559
emarcussen@hospicechesapeake.org
 
 
 
August is Make-A-Will Month: a gift of care, love and legacy
 
(PASADENA, MD, Aug. 18, 2025) — August is National Make-A-Will Month, a perfect time to take one of the most caring steps you can for the people and causes you love: creating or updating your will.
Hospice of the Chesapeake knows from decades of walking alongside families that planning ahead is one of the greatest gifts you can give. It’s a way to protect your loved ones, make your wishes known, and reflect your values long into the future.
“Making a will is about more than legal documents,” Christine Wilson, Executive Director of the Hospice of the Chesapeake Foundation said. “It’s about making sure your care, your family and your legacy are treated with the same thoughtfulness you’ve shown in life.”
Why now? You don’t need to be seriously ill or a certain age to benefit from a will. Anyone age 18 or older can take this step. Yet, fewer than one in three adults have a will and 80 percent have never shared end-of-life wishes with loved ones.
Having a will lets you name guardians for children or dependents, appoint someone you trust to manage your estate, provide for loved ones, protect your assets and continue supporting causes close to your heart after you die.
Creating a will may be simpler than you think. Talking with an estate planning attorney is perhaps an obvious way, but there are other options for all budgets. For example, you can use reputable online tools like FreeWill.com, LegalZoom.com or Nolo.com. You can also check with your human resources department as some employers offer free or discounted legal services. Download Hospice of the Chesapeake’s free Estate Planning Guide at https://hospicechesapeake.planmygift.org/ to help you take the first steps with confidence.
Including your favorite charities in your will or estate plan ensures future generations will reap the benefits that you admire. By including Hospice of the Chesapeake, you’re helping others in the future to receive the same care and comfort our community counts on today. Your gift makes possible supportive and hospice care for uninsured or underinsured neighbors, as well as support programs to help children, teens, and veterans, grief counseling for adults and children, even if a loved one was not in our care and healing arts programs with music, art, nature, and spiritual care.
Even a simple beneficiary designation on an IRA, life insurance policy, or bank account can make a lasting difference, often with just one form.
If you’ve already included Hospice of the Chesapeake in your plans, please let their philanthropy team know. They’d love to thank you personally and welcome you into the Circle of Care Legacy Society, a group of supporters whose future gifts ensure no one faces the end-of-life journey alone.
Take your next step today. Visit https://hospicechesapeake.planmygift.org/ or contact the team at foundation@hospicechesapeake.org or 443-837-3385 to request your free Estate Planning Guide.
 
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About Hospice of the Chesapeake
At Hospice of the Chesapeake, we support individuals and families facing progressive, serious illness to reimagine hope—living each day with intention and peace—while ensuring our nonprofit organization remains a vital resource for future generations. We develop care plans to minimize symptoms and focus on what matters most for patients and families in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties.
Caring for life throughout the journey with illness and loss is the mission of Hospice of the Chesapeake. For more information, please visit www.hospicechesapeake.org.
 
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(Courtesy image) Hospice of the Chesapeake offers a free Estate Planning Guide at https://hospicechesapeake.planmygift.org/ to help you take the first steps with confidence. Make A Will Month is the perfect time to prepare or update your will.