Include a Charity Week, which runs from September 2nd to 8th, is a social change campaign calling upon Australians to pledge a gift in their Will.
Every year, more than 100 charities nationwide unite for Include a Charity Week.
The theme for this year, ‘Be the Spark‘, reinforces the idea of the continuing and inherent potential and future-proofing act of leaving a charitable gift in your Will. The theme also underscores the notion that leaving a gift in your Will is a spark of generosity, illuminating the darkness that surrounds so many lives and which continues beyond our lifetime.
Speaking on the initiative, Helen Beeby, Campaign Director, Include a Charity (IAC), says: “As humans, we are driven by the desire to leave a legacy—a meaningful imprint that continues beyond our lifetime, inspiring future generations. Gifts in wills account for 25% of all fundraising revenue in Australia and Include a Charity research indicates the annual figure to be about $1.6 billion.
“This shows how many people made this important commitment, and we want it to become the norm for everybody. Including a gift in your Will signifies your dedication to causes that hold personal significance: whether it’s advancing medical research, nurturing the arts, protecting animals, aiding vulnerable communities, or preserving the environment.
“It celebrates life and catalyses social change and charitable support,” she said.
Esma Mary Cormack or ‘Teddy’ as she was fondly known by family and friends, left a bequest of over $30,000 to the Children’s Leukaemia and Cancer Research Foundation (CLCRF). Teddy was 90 years old when she passed away in September 2017.
Teddy had two daughters, Sue and Debbie, eight years apart. In the 1950s, Debbie passed away at six years of age, after a very long illness. She was born with a severe liver disease and deformity, with no prospect of a cure. This experience as a parent formed the basis of Teddy’s desire to support and help the most vulnerable.
Some years following Debbie’s death, the family moved to Western Australia. But Debbie was never far from Teddy’s mind. When it came time to write her Will, Teddy’s solicitor suggested that she consider making a bequest to a children’s charity. Teddy said she was excited to think that she could make a difference for children and babies who were sick and in pain.
Teddy’s family suggested that CLCRF was a good fit for her wishes because the foundation funds research into childhood cancer, including research to find better protocols for the treatment of young children. This was Teddy’s legacy in remembrance of a cheerful little girl named Deborah Jayne. The Children’s Leukaemia and Cancer Research Foundation is very grateful for Teddy’s generosity.
Australian charities participating in the campaign span diverse causes including medical research, education, animal welfare, environmental conservation, the arts, and more.
For more information on Include a Charity Week, visit www.includeacharity.com.au.
