'Powerful expression of giving'

Published on 8th of September, 2016

A decision made now meets the needs of the future ...

During 2015-16 the Christchurch Methodist Mission received over $300,000 from donors who had left a gift in their Will.

For many of these donors the decision to leave a gift in their Will was made many years before. Their generosity has had a significant impact on CMM's ability to meet the needs of children, young people, families and older people.

CMM is reliant on the generosity of our community to provide the services and programmes that make a positive difference in people's lives. This is especially true for significant capital projects such as the on-going redevelopment of WesleyCare Hospital that are outside the scope of present funding contracts.

"Gifts from donors in their Will are such a powerful expression of giving" says CMM Executive Director Jill Hawkey. "Though they made the decision to leave a gift some time ago, their thoughtfulness enables organisations such as ours to meet the needs present in our community. Many of the needs that we are responding to today didn't exist when they made the decision to leave a gift in their Will".

The redevelopment at WesleyCare Hospital is possible in part through gifts that have been left by donors.  Once completed in early 2017 it will have capacity to provide 111 beds at hospital level care, 16 at rest home level as well as palliative care. The foresight of donors to remember the Christchurch Methodist Mission will mean older people in our community receive the specialist care and support that they need now and into the future.

A long-time supporter who wished to remain anonymous said that in remembering CMM in her Will she wanted the Methodist Mission "to be able to do a bit more through my gift". "I like to see someone helping the homeless and needy in our community".

Some people might consider the process of including a charity in their Will difficult but this was not the experience of this donor. "The process was easy. I contacted the lawyer and they were happy to update it to include the Mission".

She adds "I know the Methodist Mission is doing great work in the community. My advice to someone who is thinking of leaving a gift in their Will to charity but hasn't done so already is that there is plenty of charities out there but none better than the Methodist Mission".