The C.G.F. Francie
Billotti-Wood Scholarship Fund
Established in Memory of Middletown Family

October 28, 2009: Sam and Mary Frances Billotti raised their four children in the Middletown Valley and watched with pride as each of them graduated from Middletown High School. They looked forward to one day watching all their grandchildren do the same. But when tragedy struck last April, those hopes were shattered.

Sam and Mary Frances’ daughter, Francie Billotti-Wood, and her three young children, Chandler, Gavin, and Fiona, were killed less than a year after moving back to Middletown from Jacksonville, Florida.

“Francie came back to Middletown to raise her kids here,” her sister Angela Phillips explains. “Jacksonville didn’t have the small-town community feel that the Middletown Valley did. She envisioned her own children growing up and graduating from Middletown High School.”

Because of the family’s shared love of the area and the tremendous outpouring of support they received from the local church community, friends, and neighbors, Sam and Mary Frances Billotti turned to The Community Foundation of Frederick County to establish a scholarship fund in memory of their slain daughter and three grandchildren.

“In the midst of all this terrible tragedy, my parents wanted to honor Francie’s memory,” Angela continues, adding that all family members have contributed to the Fund. “The reason we did this was because of our connection to the Valley and its importance to Francie.”

The C.G.F. Francie Billotti-Wood Scholarship Fund, named with the initials of each of the children, was created to assist deserving students, with preference given to graduates of Middletown High School. Applicants should have achieved an outstanding record of community service, have an interest in environmental conservation and organic living, and intend to have a career in nonprofit work.

“Nonprofit work and being considerate of the environment…this defined who Francie was,” her sister reflects. “She was earth-friendly and lived in a sustainable type of way.” Francie had worked in fund development for nonprofit organizations and served on the board of Volunteer Frederick. She also taught Sunday School at Holy Family Catholic Community Church.

As long-time residents of Frederick County, Angela and her family knew that the Community Foundation was the best resource for establishing and managing a scholarship fund. “It’s the premiere organization—a one-stop shop for this type of vehicle,” Angela states. The family knows that their own contributions, as well as memorial gifts from the community, are in good hands with the Community Foundation.

Providing families with peace of mind through professional fund management is what the Community Foundation has been doing since 1986. Over one-fourth of the 600-plus funds held by the Community Foundation honor the memories of deceased loved ones by providing funds designated for any number of causes throughout Frederick County. To date, the Community Foundation has given back more than $22 million in grants and scholarships.

Those who wish to honor the memory of Francie Billotti-Wood and her children may make a secure, online donation at www.cffredco.org to The C.G.F. Francie Billotti-Wood Scholarship Fund. To do so, click here. Checks made payable to The Community Foundation of Frederick County with the Fund’s name inserted in the memo line, may be mailed to 312 East Church Street, Frederick, Maryland, 21701. All contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. For additional information about the Community Foundation, call 301.695.7660.