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February 11, 2026

Centreville Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Centreville

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Mr. Arnold Williams, CPA Selected as Board Chair for Qlarant, Inc. By Board of Directors

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The Board of Directors for Qlarant, Inc. have selected Mr. Arnold Williams, CPA as Board Chair. Mr. Williams began his Qlarant board experience when he served on Board, starting in 2022; since then, he has served on the Ethics Committee (4 years), the Governance Committee (4 years) and was Chair of the Pension & Investment Committee (1 year).

Mr. Williams is the Managing Director of Abrams, Foster, Nole & Williams, P.A. (AFNW)—a minority-owned certified public accounting firm that was founded in 1983 with a philosophy of “Quality with Distinction.”

As Managing Director, Mr. Williams is responsible for the professional accounting services delivered by the firm’s experienced team. He also oversees strategic business development efforts and seeks to improve internal controls. Mr. Williams places emphasis on service and maintaining long-term relationships with clients, vendors, and employees.

“I am honored to be elected Chair of the Board of Qlarant and appreciate the confidence of the board members,” said Mr. Williams. “I have high regard and respect of the past Chairs and their contributions, guidance, and accomplishments toward leading Qlarant to the point they are today.”

“The Qlarant board consists of 12 dedicated, smart individuals with diversified backgrounds and talents working collectively and cohesively with management in the pursuit of delivering excellence in the sphere of quality improvement solutions, tools, and strategies”, he continued. “I am extremely impressed and admire the Qlarant management, associates, and staff for their intellect, leadership, innovation, and maintaining consistently the Best Workplace in Maryland and Beyond.”

Mr. Williams has more than 40 years’ experience providing accounting, tax, and consulting services and is particularly focused on tax-exempt and religious organizations. Mr. Williams is a frequent conference speaker for workshops and panel discussions; competent tax advisor and advocate resolving IRS issues, penalties and liens; and knowledgeable advisor to Boards concerning compensation and benefits related to salaries, housing allowances, employee benefits, taxes, etc. He is skilled at structuring investment/financing opportunities to build cash resources and strengthen an organization’s statement of financial position, as well as evaluating cash balances to maximize investment returns.

In a recent Baltimore Sun article titled Baltimore Sun Hall of Fame 2024: Arnold Williams, Williams said “It is important to transfer our learning and encourage more people of color to be business owners [and] employers as we help build the Maryland economy.”

The article went on to describe that “beyond the walls of his firm, Williams has served in several key community positions, including over 25 years — with 16 as chairman — on the board of directors for the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), the city’s economic development arm. Williams was originally appointed as chairman by former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, who said Williams provided “outstanding leadership” evidenced by the fact that subsequent mayors chose to retain him in that role rather than selecting their own appointees.”

Schmoke said the BDC had faced criticism for focusing too much on downtown revitalization, but the appointment of Williams “sent the right signal that there was going to be a good balance of economic development in the central business district as well as in the neighborhoods.””

Prior to founding AFNW, he was a partner at Taylor, Williams & Associates, PA; an Assistant Legislative Auditor for the General Assembly of Maryland Department of Fiscal Services; a Hospital Cost Reimbursement Analyst at Hospital Cost Analysis Services; and a Cost Accountant at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of Baltimore with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

“As Qlarant Chair, I will support the current mission and vision and its corporate enterprise goals of increasing revenue, new contracts, and operational efficiency,” said Mr. Williams. “It is my belief that this is the opportune time for Qlarant to increase its position as a national leader in healthcare quality improvement, program integrity, and innovation in addressing fraud, waste, and abuse.”

Mr. Williams’ professional certifications and affiliations include:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Maryland; Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants – Member; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants – Member; National Association of State Boards of Accountancy – Member; National Association of Black Accountants – Member; The President’s Roundtable, Inc. – Emeritus Member; Baltimore Development Corporation – Past Chairman; Maryland Health & Higher Education Facilities Authority – Chairman; Neighborhood Impact Investment Fund – Chairman; Greater Baltimore Committee – Board Member; Lexington Market, Inc. and Baltimore Public Markets, Inc. – Board Member, Baltimore City Board of Finance – Member

Dr. Ronald Forsythe, Jr, Qlarant CEO, praised the decision to elevate Mr. Williams to Board Chair. “I look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Williams as Chair. His experience and expertise will form the foundation for how Qlarant continues to grow and develop as a national leader as a quality and technology company.”

Mr. Williams lives in Kingsville, Maryland with his wife Virgie and he has one daughter.

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Talbot Co. Garden Club January 27 Lecture Will Savor All Aspects of Coffee

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Talbot County Garden Club invites you to a free lecture to unpack the mystery of coffee… from how it grows to what it takes to create our favorite flavors. Covering the topic from bush to bean to brew will be NOAH KEGLEY, Head Roaster & Partner of Rise Up Coffee. 

Kegley will speak at the Talbot County Free Library in Easton on Tuesday, January 27 beginning at 11 am. Complimentary cups of Rise Up will jumpstart the program as part of the garden club’s 2026 Winter Lecture Series.

Kegley, a popular fixture in our local business community, has been in the coffee business for 15 years. In addition to hearing about his career and the history of the Rise Up Coffee business, attendees will gain a greater appreciation for the arduous journey from coffee bean to coffee cup and the special processing methods that give Rise Up its unique flavor profiles.

As a commodity, coffee has a global importance on both economic and social levels. Addressing these aspects, Kegley will also share Rise Up’s work with The Coffee Trust, an industry non-profit focused on supporting indigenous Central American coffee farmers and their communities.

The garden club’s 2026 Winter Lecture Series continues. Mark your calendar…

Tuesday, February 24
TERESA SPEIGHT, Cottage in the Court
“Community Gardens: Building Community by Gardening and Digging in the Dirt with Your Neighbors!”

Wednesday, March 25
KIRK R. BROWN
“John Bartram Lives…” (An historical presentation on the life of America’s first horticulturist and plant collector)

Tuesday, April 28
CECE HAYDOCK, Landscape Architect
“Edith Wharton and the Villas of Rome”

Questions about these programs should be directed to [email protected]

About the Talbot County Garden Club

The Talbot County Garden Club is known for its “good and green works” that benefit the Talbot County community. The club was established in 1917 to enhance the natural beauty of the local environment by sharing knowledge of gardening, designing and maintaining civic gardens, supporting civic greening projects, encouraging the conservation of natural resources, and fostering the art of flower arranging. Noteworthy projects include grounds maintenance at the Talbot Historical Society, Talbot County Free Library (Easton), and the Fountain and Children’s Gardens in Idlewild Park; greenery installations for Easton’s Rail Trail, U.S. Post Office and Christ Church; plus an ever-growing number of horticultural outreach activities. There are currently 120 active, associate and honorary members.   

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Music Theory for Folk Musicians at Allegro Academy

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Calling all folk musicians, singer-songwriters, fiddlers, and living-room players! Allegro Academy is offering our new Music Theory for Folk Musicians class this winter! Have you ever wondered why so many songs only have three chords, and which three they are? Want some vocabulary to explain what’s going on in your music? Need to know about modes? Join us to build a foundation of music theory in a folk-music context. Classes will take place Tuesday evenings, January 6, 13, 20, & 27, from 6:30-8pm, with plenty of time for your questions each week. Total cost for the 4-week session is $100.

Teaching the class will be Allegro Board President, Topher Lawton.  Topher is an accomplished vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and teacher based on Maryland’s eastern shore. He holds an undergraduate degree in music history and a graduate degree in information science, and has two decades of experience leading small performance ensembles. His research and practice focuses on vocal expression of human experiences, from renaissance madrigals to early American shape-note music, and he has taught music theory and performance at all levels from grade school through adult learners. Currently, he’s enmeshed in the study of the 18th-century music found in the colonies, and the ways that music formed and informed our American identity during the Revolution. You can see Topher performing with Ampersand, and with various other groups throughout the mid-Atlantic.

Allegro Academy, a non-profit music conservatory located in downtown Easton, connects musicians through workshops, lessons, ensembles, and performances, and aspires to enrich the lives of music enthusiasts of all ages and incomes in our community. Academy Programs are supported in part by generous contributions from individuals, Talbot Arts, the Mid-Shore Community Foundation, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

For more information and registration links, please visit www.allegroacademyeaston.com or call 410-603-8361. 

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Talisman Therapeutic Riding Sleigh Celebration is Bringing Broadway to Maryland

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Stephen Carter-Hicks, a musical performer with a rich history on Broadway, national tours, and with Cirque du Soleil, will join the guests at the Talisman Therapeutic Riding Sleigh Celebration on December 5th from 5:00 to 8:00 at the Hyatt Kent Island. 

Known for his powerful vocal performances and engaging stage presence, Carter-Hicks performed in Cats as Old Deuteronomy, played key roles in Beauty and the Beast

and served seven years as wig master, vocal coach, and performer with Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity.  He is an accomplished cabaret artist with three recorded albums, including Step Into My Parlor, available on Apple Music and other streaming platforms.

Beyond the spotlight, Carter-Hicks carries an important message of resilience. Diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), he is a dedicated advocate and long-time volunteer for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA). He frequently leverages his performances to raise awareness and funds for the incurable disease.

Tickets are $150 per person and $1,500 for reserved table of eight. For further information, go to www.talismantherapeuticriding.org or call 443-239-9400.

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New Class at the Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore in January

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The Fiber Arts Center of the Eastern Shore Offers “Nine Baltimore Album Blocks From The Lovely Lane Museum – A Quilting Class”

Students will explore the story behind the blocks and learn various appliqué tips, tricks  and methods in this first series of 3 classes. One block will be created from each class. 

Instructor: Mary Zober 
Dates: January 17, February 7 and March 21, 2026 
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm 
Cost: Members/$120.00 Non-Members/$180.00 

For more information on the class and for a supply list, please call Mary at 302/632-4244. To sign up for the class, please call Kathleen at FAC at 443/448-4611. 

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Rembrandt Comes to America: Masterpieces in Black and White—Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum by Anke Van Wagenberg, PhD

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I recently attended the opening of the exhibition Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White—Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum G. It was great to be part of the opening events of the American Federation of Arts & the Rembrandt House exhibition now on view at The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, SC. 

A fellow Dutchman, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time. Apart from his atmospheric paintings, he also produced more than 300 etchings. Ranging in scale and detail, these etchings exemplify Rembrandt’s mastery of print.

Rembrandt, known by his first name (like modern-day Madonna or Sting) was a master of innovation. As an artist, he constantly sought out new possibilities and new solutions for making art. This is evident not only from his paintings, but also from the more than three hundred etchings that he made in his career. Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White—Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum presents the full range of Rembrandt’s etching output, alongside prints by select forerunners and contemporaries. It also demonstrates Rembrandt’s centuries-long impact on the field of printmaking through a select group of etchings by later nineteenth and twentieth-century artists.

A Dutch Baroque painter and printmaker, Rembrandt was one of the greatest storytellers in the history of art, possessing an exceptional ability to render people in their various moods and dramatic guises. Today he is widely regarded as one of the two most important printmakers in history, along with Albrecht Dürer. From his earliest etchings, Rembrandt created original compositions oriented towards the specific character of the medium. As a result, his prints range widely from large to small, and from summary sketches to laborious and elaborate works. He addressed an equally varied set of subjects, including Biblical stories, portraits, depictions of exaggerated or characteristic facial expressions called “tronies,” observations of everyday life, landscapes, nude model studies, and even sheets packed with small sketches.

Rembrandt’s printmaking style changed over his career, and he honed his style across a wide variety of subjects. Both his progress and the variety of his output will be traced in a number of thematic sections in this exhibition. These sections will cover everything from Rembrandt’s masterful skills as a visual narrator, his bold exploration of light and dark, and how he used self-portraits to fashion his own visual identity and explore the complexity of aging. The exhibition also includes select comparative works by Rembrandt’s forerunners and contemporaries, including his teacher Pieter Lastman and his pupils, Ferdinand Bol and Govert Flinck, which will contextualize his work and shed light on his specific innovations, such as his repeated experiments with etching, tonal effects, and the dramatic portrayal of his subjects.

The exhibition is accompanied by a free educational brochure developed by the AFA with an introduction by Epco Runia, Head of Collections at the Rembrandt House Museum, and with me as editor.

Following Birmingham, UK, the exhibition will be on view at the
Gibbes Museum in Charleston, SC October 24, 2025 – January 11, 2026;
the Taft Museum of Art in Cincinnati, OH, February 7 – May 17, 2026;
Naples Art Institute, Naples, FL, October 10, 2026 — January 17, 2027.  

Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black and White—Prints from the Rembrandt House Museum is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Rembrandt House Museum.

Anke Van Wagenberg, PhD, is Senior Curator & Head of International Collaborations at the American Federation of Arts in New York and lives in Talbot County, MD. 

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Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore Hosts Fourth Annual Handmade Market

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This year, Bayside Quilters will hold its fourth annual Handmade Market on November 21, from 3 to 7 p.m., and November 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The guild’s talented quilters have been busy crafting quilts and other gift items, which will be for sale on the second floor of the Trappe Volunteer Fire Company at 4001 Powell Avenue in Trappe, Maryland, just in time for the holidays. These items include large and small quilts, wall hangings, table runners, rope bowls, toys, pillows, and bags, as well as a beautifully crafted raffle quilt.

The Handmade Market is an annual event that the Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore hold to raise funds for our outreach and educational efforts. Outreach efforts benefit many non-profits on the Eastern Shore, including the Caroline County Family Support Center, Greensboro Judy Center, Chapel District Elementary Schools, Talbot Interfaith Shelter, University of Maryland Clark Comprehensive Breast Center, Talbot Hospice and Palliative Care, and Veterans of Talbot Hospice. Bayside Quilters’ education efforts include currently teaching 4-H students in Talbot and Caroline counties to sew.

Bayside Quilters meet at 9:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Trappe Volunteer Fire Company, 4001 Powell Ave., Trappe, MD. New members and visitors are welcome. For more information, visit Facebook @ Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore, or the website www.baysidequilters.com.

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Looking at the Masters: St Martin’s Day and Martinmas

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”Saint Martín and the Beggar” (1597-99)

The Feast of St Martin, or Martinmas, is celebrated on November 11. El Greco’s painting “St Martin and the Beggar” (1597-99) (76”x41”) (National Gallery of Art, DC) is a depiction of St Martin of Tours (c.316-397), a member of the Imperial cavalry of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.  Martin was stationed in Gaul in the French city of Amiens. The story goes that on a cold winter day Martin came across a naked beggar. He took off his warm green wool robe and cut it in half to share with the poor man. That night Martin experienced a vision of Christ wearing the robe, Christ said to him, “What thou hast done for that poor man, thou hast done for me.” Another story tells that when Martin awoke, his cloak had been restored. In the painting, Martin rides a magnificent white Arabian horse, in keeping with his position. He wears black armor decorated with elaborate gold designs in the Damascene style developed by the craftsmen of Toledo, Spain. 

El Greco, was born on the island of Crete, off the Greek mainland. He was trained to be a Byzantine Greek icon painter. He later moved to Toledo, Spain, working there for the last 37 years of his life.  His Greek name Doménikos Theotokópoulos was hard to pronounce, so he was nicknamed El Greco (the Greek). He continued to paint elongated figures in the Byzantine style to accentuate the spiritual over the physical, apparent in the figure of the beggar. The viewer looks up at the two figures, and they seem monumental. In the background is the city of Toledo and the River Tagus that El Greco often included in paintings at the time. Also typical of El Greco is the use of intense colors and portrayal of a “moody” sky. This painting is considered one of his greatest.

“St Martin Renounces his Weapons (1322-26)

Martin’s father was a senior military officer; thus, Martin was obligated at age 15 to join the army. Martin’s vision encouraged him in his Christian beliefs, and he was baptized at age 18.  “St Martin Renounces his Weapons” (1322-26), painted by Simone Martini of Siena, is a depiction of the time when Martin left the army. Young Martin stands before the seated Emperor Constantine. Martin holds a cross. Constantine holds a sword. The setting is in a military camp with elegant tents, members of the Imperial Guard in attendance, and horses set in a rocky landscape. 

The painting was commissioned by Robert d’Anjou, King of Naples, to fulfill the last wish of Cardinal Montefiore, who went to Buda, Hungary in 1307 and gained the crown of Hungary for Robert d’Anjou. St Martin was born in Hungary, and Montefiore considered Martin’s aid a significant factor in his success. On returning to his home in Assisi, Montefiore asked that a chapel dedicated to St Martin be built in the church of San Francesco in Assisi. This painting is one of ten depictions of the life of St Martin painted by Martini at Assisi. An early Renaissance artist, Martini and the Sienese artists were beginning to create fully three-dimensional works of art. 

”Saint Martin Healing the Possessed Man” (1630)

Martin declared he was a soldier for Christ and became a monk, holy man, and ultimately the Bishop of Tours in 371. The hagiographer (biographer of lives of saints) Sulpicius Severus, knew Martin personally, and described several of Martin’s miracles: raising the dead, healing the sick, exorcism, and others. 

“St Martin Healing the Possessed Man” (1630) (48”x34”), painted by Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678), the leading Flemish painter after the deaths of Rubens and Van Dyke, could represent a healing of the sick, or perhaps an exorcism. In the classical Baroque style, Jordaens places Martin on a high porch and dressed as the Bishop of Tours. Below him are a number of persons who appear to have come for his help and his blessing. The naked and apparently possessed man writhes on a lower step. An old man and three women of varying ages look in fear at the figure wearing the gold and blue turban, red robe, and leather boots, and drawing his sword. Is he evil, perhaps a devil, or is he the executioner if the possessed man cannot be cured? He is the only figure in foreign dress. The setting is a compilation of gilded capitals, marble columns, and arches. Jordaens leaves the viewer confused about the setting and the cast of characters. He does present a solid and masterful image of St Mark.

‘Saint Martin Healing the Possessed Man” (detail)

During restoration an overpainted coat of arms was discovered at the base of the column. The coat of arms belonged to Antonius de Rorre, a Benedictine abbot, most likely the patron for this painting, the first Jordaens altarpiece. Jordaens would continue to grow as an artist as did his reputation as the successor of Rubens and Van Dyke. 

“The Death of St Martin of Tours” (1490)

St Martin foresaw his death, and it is recorded that he said, “Allow me, my brethren, to look rather towards heaven than upon the earth, that my soul may be directed to take its flight to the Lord to whom it is going.”  “The Death of St Martin of Tours” (1490) was painted by German artist Derik Baegert (1440-c.1515). Although St Martin was born in c. 316 and died on November 8, 397 CE, at the age of eighty-one, he is depicted as a young man. Wearing a red robe, St Martin lies on a coffin covered by woven straw mat. He is mourned by a kneeling angel and four men. One with glasses reads from a scroll, the second reads from the Bible and sprinkles him with holy water, and a third prays. The elderly man kneeling in the front holds a gold candle that symbolically will light St Martins way to Heaven. Outside the windows is a Germanic landscape, and God receives the naked bodies of the faithful. The two-headed devil gesticulates at the foot of the coffin. St Martin reportedly stated, “Why are you standing here, cruel beast? You shall find no cause for grief in me!”  

“Wine on St Martin’s Day” (1566-68)

Martin was called a Saint by popular acclaim in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries, before he was actually canonized. In the Middle Ages, Catholics began a forty-day fast on November 12, the day after St Martin’s Feast Day.  The period of fasting was called Martinmas, the spiritual preparation for Christmas. The harvest season had ended and the slaughtering of livestock, particularly cattle and pigs, for winter began on November 12 in Europe. Sausage and black pudding known as “Pig cheer” were gifts. Two popular dishes were Martinmas beef and Martinmas goose. When Martin tried to hide from those who wanted him to be the Bishop of Tours, he chose a barn housing a flock of geese. Their honking alerted his trackers, and he was forced to take the job. The goose is one of Martin’s symbols. 

In many European countries Martinmas began with the lighting of bonfires or candle-light processions. A member of the community would dress as St Martin and ride on horseback distributing gifts. The ashes from the fires then might be spread on the ground as fertilizer. Another feature of Martinmas was drinking the first wine of the season. “Wine on St Martin’s Day” (1566-68) is by Pieter Brueghel the Elder (c.1525/30-1569), one of the best-known painters of landscape and genre scenes in the Netherlands. It is his largest painting (3’10’’ by 8’10’’). The celebrating villagers are composed in a triangular mass that leads up to a large red barrel of wine. Typical of Brueghel’s paintings, peasants of all ages and types drink, eat, dance, brawl and otherwise celebrate the day. Astride his white horse, St Martin cuts his red cloak in half to give it to two crippled beggars. Brueghel is known for including the poor and disabled in his paintings. The whole scene takes place outside a local village. Houses and a church tower are placed at the right side of the scene. In the distance at the left are a large town with more substantial buildings and towers. They are the homes of the wealthy, but they are not here in this merry scramble of peasants.

St Martin was the patron saint of beggars, wool-weavers, and tailors, to name a few. Although opposed to violence, he was made patron saint of the US Army Quartermaster Corp. It considered Martin to be a role model for soldiers because of his military service, compassion, and selflessness. On February 7, 1997, the Quartermasters Corp established the military Order of St Martin. Armistice Day (now Veterans Day) marks the day of the ceasefire that ended World War I at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month.

Beverly Hall Smith was a professor of art history for 40 years. Since retiring to Chestertown with her husband Kurt in 2014, she has taught art history classes at WC-ALL and the Institute of Adult Learning, Centreville. An artist, she sometimes exhibits work at River Arts. She also paints sets for the Garfield Theater in Chestertown.

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University of Maryland Children’s Hospital Receives Record $50 Million Gift from Tom Golisano to Advance Pediatric Care in Maryland

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In recognition of transformative gift, will be renamed University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital

BALTIMORE, Md. (October 28, 2025) A landmark $50 million gift from entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader Tom Golisano marks a defining moment for the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). As the largest philanthropic contribution in their history, this transformative investment will strengthen the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) as leaders in breakthrough science, education and compassionate care – shaping healthier futures for generations of children.

In tribute to this historic gift, the children’s hospital, located inside UMMC, the flagship hospital of UMMS, becomes the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital (UMGCH). As a new member of the Golisano Children’s Alliance, it joins a growing national coalition of premier children’s hospitals dedicated to transforming pediatric medicine through collaboration, discovery and equitable access to world-class care.

At an event in Rochester, New York, Tom Golisano unveiled new gifts to six hospitals—expanding his Golisano Children’s Alliance to a 10-member national network advancing excellence and innovation in pediatric care. Senior leaders from UMMS, UMMC and UMSOM participated in the announcement. (View recording of the Rochester event here.)

“Children’s health has always been a priority for me, and it’s been deeply rewarding to see how the Golisano Children’s Hospitals are making a profound impact on the communities they serve,” said Golisano. “I am fortunate to be able to help others in this way, and I’m looking forward to seeing what these hospitals can achieve together. Also, I plan to continue making similar transformative gifts that will strengthen this new alliance.”

“For nearly 80 years, our Children’s Hospital has been caring for Maryland’s children and families right here in downtown Baltimore. Tom Golisano’s extraordinary gift will help us create a world-class facility with programs in gene and cell therapy that move us closer to cures once thought out of reach. It will allow us to attract the best pediatric specialists in these fields – the future of pediatric health care – while accelerating the growth of our existing programs in heart care, mental health, and community health. This investment will establish a lasting legacy of healing and excellence for the children of Baltimore and beyond,” said Steven J. Czinn, MD, Director of the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital. Dr. Czinn is also The Drs. Rouben and Violet Jiji Endowed Professor of Pediatrics and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“This historic and transformational gift comes at a time of urgency and opportunity for pediatric care in Maryland. It will have lasting impact across generations of children and families. We are deeply grateful to Tom Golisano for his vision and generosity, and we are incredibly excited to build on the momentum this gift will bring to Baltimore,” added Heather S. Culp, JD, Senior Vice President for UMMC, Senior Associate Dean for Development at UMSOM, and Chief Philanthropy Officer for University of Maryland Medicine.

Impact of the Gift: Space, Programs, People
Significantly expanding the existing children’s hospital, the gift catalyzes a comprehensive pipeline for innovation in pediatric care, research, workforce development and community health – advancing bold ideas and life-changing discoveries that will benefit children and families across Maryland and beyond. Goals include:

  • A Dedicated Home for the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital
      • Move existing inpatient and outpatient pediatric services currently located in multiple areas of the medical center and downtown into a unified, child-centered space within the new Stoler Center for Advanced Medicine (under construction with completion targeted for 2026).
      • Include new facilities for specialties like oncology, advanced critical care and emerging gene therapies
  • Expansion of Advanced Clinical Programs
      • Increase surgical capacity for complex, high-volume programs in pediatric heart care and rare diseases
      • Enhance care in NICU, PICU and general pediatric units
  • Launch of Gene Therapy Services for Children
      • Establish a comprehensive pediatric gene therapy program, offering FDA-approved, potentially curative treatments for over 20 rare childhood diseases
      • Position the hospital as a regional hub for advanced, personalized pediatric medicine
  • Acceleration of Innovation and Research
      • Expand multi-site studies on rare diseases, CAR T-cell therapy and evidence-based treatments
      • Advance research on social determinants of health and community-driven care
  • Strengthen Community Outreach and Access
      • Support new models of care addressing rising pediatric mental health challenges, obesity and chronic conditions
      • Fund outreach and innovation to reach medically underserved communities
  • Recruiting and Retention of Top Pediatric Talent
    • Attract visionary leaders, specialists and researchers to drive the next era of pediatric medicine

Golisano Invests in Maryland’s Flagship for Children’s Health

The University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital, a 90-bed facility with over 3,000 annual admissions and 118,000 outpatient visits, serves as a statewide leader in pediatric care. Supported by the University of Maryland Medical System and guided by the nation’s first public medical school, the hospital’s reach spans the entire state while its proximity to Washington, D.C. helps shape national health policy.

Research initiatives affiliated with the hospital – including the Center for Vaccine Development, the Brain Tissue Bank, Asthma Management, Pediatric HIV research and treatment – are driving breakthroughs in genetics, infectious diseases, and child health outcomes. In a recent example of this research leading to direct benefits for families in Maryland, studies of former neonatal intensive care patients informed the state’s decision to expand eligibility for early intervention services to hundreds more children each year. 

The hospital operates Maryland’s largest Level IV neonatal intensive care unit and recently cared for the youngest patient in its history at 22 weeks gestation. It was the first in the state to perform a pediatric double heart-lung transplant, the first to treat a pediatric patient with stem cells, and is home to downtown Baltimore’s dedicated pediatric emergency department. As a regional hub for pediatric intensive care, UMGCH co-operates a statewide transport network to ensure critically ill children receive timely, specialized treatment. Its children’s heart program, founded in 2012, is recognized as one of the top such programs in the nation.

Beyond clinical care, UMGCH fosters community through physician-led camps and annual patient reunions, strengthening connections between families and care teams.

The Heart of Why Funding Pediatrics Matters

As a registered nurse at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, Angela Laubach sees miracles happen every day. But she’s also experienced this care in the most personal way, because her daughter Lana is one of those miracles. During Angela’s 20-week anatomy scan, she learned that her daughter Lana had a serious heart defect. 

“As a nurse, I understood the gravity of the diagnosis, but nothing prepares you to hear those words about your own baby. The team at the children’s hospital guided us through every moment – from Lana’s open-heart surgery just six days after birth to her remarkable recovery – with compassion, and constant reassurance. Today, Lana is a joyful 3-year-old who fills our home with laughter and endless ideas. Literally, her favorite thing to say is ‘I have a better idea,’” said Angela. 

Voices Across the Institutions

Mohan Suntha, MD, President and CEO of University of Maryland Medical System:

“A gift of this magnitude to our flagship children’s hospital enables us to expand pediatric expertise, improve access and strengthen care teams across our entire system. As a result, more children in more communities will receive the specialized care they need closer to home.”

Mark T. Gladwin, MD, Dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine: 

“We are so grateful for this profound and intentional gift from Tom Golisano, which comes at a critical time when children’s health in the U.S. is in alarming decline and funding for children’s health is increasingly at risk. Mr. Golisano is truly a remarkable individual who has put children’s health at the heart of his philanthropic mission. His tremendous generosity enables our Children’s Hospital to move forward as a bold leader in pediatric health across Maryland and beyond, enabling us to invest in cutting-edge technology and inspiring innovation among our pediatricians and pediatric surgeons in areas such as congenital heart care, targeted gene therapy, community health, and building new programs for curative therapies for pediatric genetic diseases and cancer.”

Bert W. O’Malley, MD, Executive Vice President for the Academic Health Division at UMMS; President of the University of Maryland Medical Center; and Professor of Otorhinolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine. 

“As part of a statewide academic health system, we have long had the privilege to provide Maryland children with high quality, compassionate care and advanced treatments for some of the most complex pediatric conditions. By joining the Golisano Children’s Alliance, we’re now connected to a national network of top children’s hospitals. Together, we can discover and share best practices, align on standards and launch innovative models that reach more children.”

Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, UMB President.

 “By joining the Golisano Children’s Alliance, University of Maryland, Baltimore faculty, researchers, and clinicians are further empowered to accelerate breakthroughs across all areas of childhood health and well-being. We are immensely grateful for Tom Golisano’s generosity, and we remain deeply committed to transforming the future of pediatric health here in Maryland and beyond.”

Ron V. Cummins, Jr., MBA, Senior Vice President & COO, University of Maryland Medical Center: 

“The Golisano’s historic and generous gift is an enduring investment in Maryland’s children — accelerating access to the most advanced treatments, and nurturing spaces — so that every child and family in our community receives care that honors their hopes and needs. The benefits of this gift will be felt for decades.”

To schedule an interview with one of the leaders above, please contact [email protected] or 410.328.8919. 

About Tom Golisano

Tom Golisano, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader, is the founder of Paychex, Inc., the nation’s largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses. Mr. Golisano’s vision, perseverance, and action have left an indelible mark on a broad spectrum of issues that touch our lives in business, healthcare, education, animal welfare, voter policies, politics, and tax reform. His investments are advancing entrepreneurship and driving the success of numerous businesses and start-ups. His philanthropic contributions to education, hospitals—including multiple children’s hospitals across the country that bear his name and numerous other organizations—exceed $1 billion. 

A fierce advocate for dignity and inclusion, in 1985 Tom Golisano applied his pioneering spirit to establish the Golisano Foundation to make the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With more than $120 million in gross assets, it is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. devoted to supporting programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities awarding grants to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.

Mr. Golisano formed and financially supports the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship, where students receive a high quality business certificate and write their own entrepreneurial success stories, without having to take on enormous debt.He is the author of two Books, “Built Not Born,” a Wall Street Journal best seller and “The Italian Kid Did It!”

Connect with him at Golisanofoundation.org, Facebook: @GolisanoFoundation, X: @GolisanoFdn, Instagram: @golisanofdn, YouTube: @GolisanoFoundation

About University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital (UMGCH)

Located within the University of Maryland Medical Center, the University of Maryland Golisano Children’s Hospital is a leading resource for children with critical and chronic illnesses throughout Maryland and the mid-Atlantic. The hospital combines state-of-the-art medicine with family-centered care, offering more than 190 specialized pediatric physicians. Its services include Maryland’s largest Level IV neonatal intensive care unit and comprehensive programs in congenital heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy, and gastrointestinal disorders. Visit www.umms.org/childrens for more information.

About University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) 

As an academic private health system, UMMS is focused on delivering compassionate, high-quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

About the University of Maryland School of Medicine

The University of Maryland School of Medicine, established in 1807 as the first public medical school in the U.S., continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world.  The School has nearly $500 million total research funding, 46 departments, centers, and institutes, more than 2,200 student trainees and over 3,000 faculty members, including notable members of the National Academy of Medicine.  As the largest public medical school in the DC/MD/VA region, faculty-physicians are working to help patients manage chronic diseases like obesity, cancer, heart disease and addiction, while also working on cutting-edge research to address the most critical generational health challenges. In 2024, the School ranked #12 among public medical schools and #27 among all medical schools for R&D expenditures by the National Science Foundation. With a $1.3 billion total operating budget, the School partners with the University of Maryland Medical Center to serve nearly 2 million patients annually. The School’s global reach extends around the world with research and treatment facilities in 33 countries. In Maryland, the School of Medicine is spearheading new initiatives in AI and health computing and partnering with the University of Maryland BioPark to develop new medical technologies and bioengineering ventures. For more information, visit medschool.umaryland.edu.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Allegra! Women’s Chorus in Concert

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Allegra! Women’s Chorus, Easton’s premier chamber choir, will be presenting a series of concerts across the Mid-Shore this November featuring fresh arrangements of beloved favorites and new compositions.  Poetry from Sappho to St. Theresa of Avila to Emily Dickinson can be heard alongside music from composers Rosephayne Powell, Elaine Hagenburg, Craig Hella Johnson, and others.  Also featured on the program is a stunning arrangement of “Shenandoah” and the original composition “Garden of Dreams,” commissioned by the ensemble in 2022 and published with Oxford University Press.  

Allegra!’s first performance will be at the Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, 905 Gateway Drive, at 3pm, with a suggested donation of $15.  Ticketed performances will be at Trinity Cathedral, 315 Goldsborough St, Easton on November 22 at 7pm and St. Paul’s, 225 S Morris St, Oxford on November 23 at 3pm.  Tickets can be purchased for $15 at the door or by visiting www.allegroacademyeaston.com.

The women’s chorus is conducted by Amy Morgan, an accomplished musician whose education includes a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance from Salisbury University and Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Messiah University.  Morgan has extensive experience as a choral, operetta, and musical theatre director, is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, and is an active musician the Easton community.  The program will be accompanied by Lyn Banghart on piano, Ursula Encarnacion on cello, and Ali Remesch on percussion. 

Allegra! was formed in the spring of 2019 and is a program of Allegro Academy, a non-profit music conservatory located downtown Easton, MD.  Other programs of the Academy include Allegro Youth Choirs, Summer Sing choir festival, group classes and private lessons.  Allegro Academy’s mission is to offer exceptional music education and performance experiences to the greater Talbot County Area and to make these offerings affordable to all.  Programs of the Academy are supported by generous donors, Talbot Arts, and the Maryland State Arts Council.  For more information please visit www.allegroacademyeaston.com.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.