Include A Charity helps future proof Mercy's good work
Mercy Hospice Auckland is proud to be one of a number of Kiwi charities raising awareness and positive action towards bequesting – the simple act of a person leaving a gift in a will to charity.
“Include A Charity Week” starts this week (Monday 9th to Sunday 15th September) and is a new initiative in New Zealand from the Include A Charity Trust. Following on from successful campaigns in the UK and Australia, it is the first time that 43 New Zealand charities have joined together to promote the opportunity for people to gift through their will.
Include A Charity spokesperson Dianne Armstrong is confident the campaign will create a lot of social good in communities throughout the country. “In New Zealand approximately 60% of people don’t have a will and this campaign strives to ensure their families and loved ones are looked after and to consider gifting to a charity they support,” she says, “It’s one of the easiest ways to give too.”
With television and press advertising rolling out this week, the campaign comes as charities look for simple ways to encourage supporters and potential donors to give. The campaign’s seven year goal seeks to double the number of people giving in their wills which may well generate an additional $200 million of benefit for New Zealand charities.
“Many people can’t always give regularly,” Dianne says, “But planning a gift in a will is a very appealing way to show love and support for a charity’s work in a way that survives long after a person’s life.”
Mercy Hospice Auckland’s Fundraising Team Leader Sandy McGregor, views the campaign as offering Supporters of Hospice another giving option that they might not have considered before. She also sees the campaign as being timely as the charity seeks to bridge the gap between Mercy Hospice’s ADHB funding and the growing need for its quality end-of-life services from the Auckland community. In 2012 patient and family visits out into the community exceeded more than 10,000 and the number of patients referred to the Hospice’s services reached 1,000 for the first time. The need for Mercy Hospice’s vital care and support services to patients and families facing life-limiting illness is only expected to grow.
“Bequests made to Mercy Hospice help future proof our services and ensure we can continue to offer patients and families the very best of care, at no cost to them, 365 days of the year” Sandy says, “We are very grateful for every bequest we receive.”
Click here to leave a gift in your will towards Mercy Hospice’s vital work.
Thank you.