“Palagis (Europeans) leave a Will, Islanders leave a bill”.
It’s a 'tongue in cheek' saying I heard growing up as an Islander living in a Westernized society. Knowing that there is often more to be paid and contributed to when a loved one passes, has made way for a system that requires all the extended family to give in each circumstance. While culturally, it is an accepted practice, I am not convinced it is to be the way we burden those we leave behind.
I’ve just returned from our family reunion in Samoa. It was a way of honoring my grandparents and the legacy of belonging, generosity and gathering that they left behind. My grandpa would often gather us every year at Christmas and give us a monetary gift enclosed in a white envelope and handed to each of his seven children for them to share among their own children. He insisted it was because the Bible says “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children.” His legacy of faith, generosity and love lives on in us, his children’s children.
Are you leaving a legacy of generosity? A recent study showed that $150 Billion Dollars is left in Wills in Australia every year. While family members are often the recipients, a small percentage is passed on to charities so that their giving exists far beyond their time on Earth.
If we started to think more about leaving a legacy ~ putting things in place to ensure our loved ones are not overwhelmed by the grief of their loss, then chipping in to support a cause we care about, how much better will our end-of-life experiences be?
This week, it’s National “Include a Charity week.” This is a social change campaign to raise awareness of legacy giving - that is, pledging a gift to a charity in your will! Gifts in Wills is one stream of income that ensures the sustainability of grassroots organisations that support social change in our communities.
We have partnered with Gathered Here Australia's most-trusted end-of-life services provider, to offer our supporters a free online will with unlimited updates. Writing a will is important at any age. If you die without one, your loved ones could find themselves with extra stress, confusion and legal costs.
A simple Will can take less than 10 minutes to complete but it could make the world of difference to the people you leave behind.
You also have the ability to include a gift to the causes you care about. When you include B4A Collective, you can rest assured that your donation will go to a grassroots charity working to help people in social or financial hardship.
Gifts in wills have a phenomenal impact on charities all around the world. Without them, many wouldn't be able to keep their doors open, let alone do the amazing work that changes lives, improves communities, and protects our planets.
Why wait for this important document to be created? Now is a great time! It’s a new season, life is short and your legacy matters.
Whether you decide to include a charity in your will or not, we'd like to thank you again for your support. Let me know if you have any questions or comments below🫶🏽
Comments