Baptist Community Services – NSW & ACT (BCS) is joining more than 130 of Australia’s leading charities this week to urge Australians to include their favourite charity in their will as a lasting gift to help future generations.
The inaugural Include A Charity Week, 12-18 September, hopes to increase the percentage of Australians who leave a charitable gift in their will from 7.5% to 12%, which would make an additional $440million available for charities such as BCS.
BCS Chief Executive Officer Mr Ross Low said, “without the support and involvement of donors, volunteers, members and churches, BCS could not continue the vital work we do, or seek to address new needs and new challenge in our communities, such as an ageing population and the increasing number of homeless men and women.”
BCS’ bequest information pack ‘Caring Through Your Will’ is now available, and provides information about how bequest gifts will help BCS to address unmet needs in communities across NSW and the ACT.
Include A Charity Founding Director, Marcus Blease, said charities relied on gifts in wills to enable them to continue providing vital services and research.
‘Although every donation, big or small, is a great help to charities, it is gifts in wills that provide vital income needed for many charities to continue their important work’, Mr Blease said.
‘You don’t have to be wealthy to include a gift to your favourite charity in your will. One final gift, no matter the size, has the potential to make a huge difference to your favourite charity.
‘After making sure families and friends are taken care of, a charitable gift is a great way for everyday Australians to ensure they leave a lasting legacy which will benefit future generations.’
Participating charities are confident Australians will answer the call, with research showing 29% of people surveyed would be happy to leave a gift in their will once family and friends had been provided for.
‘We aren’t asking for donations during Include A Charity Week’, Mr Blease said. ‘We are just asking that people take a moment to think about the important work of their favourite charity, and then consider including them in their will.
‘Australia is one of the most charitable nations in the world, with almost three in four of us supporting charities at sometime in our lives.’
‘There is no better way to make your final wish count, and make your family and friends proud of your contribution to society, than by leaving some money or a percentage of your estate to your favourite charity.’
BCS supporters who would like to read ‘Caring Through Your Will’ or order a copy of BCS’ bequest information pack can do so here.
Australians wishing to leave a bequest can go to www.includeacharity.com.au for practical information about preparing a will; how to leave a gift in your will; and finding a suitable charity to donate to.