Transcription
Remembering World Vision Australia in your Will
Message from Tim Costello. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Why leave a bequest to World Vision?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4The importance of having a Will . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6How to write your Will. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Suggested legal wording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Frequently asked questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Leave a bequest to World Vision today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144Front cover:Children celebrate the arrivalof clean drinking water at theirschool in Kenya. Photo: KennethKibet/World VisionAbove:In India, Phameria and daughterBilsina have seen their village’seconomy improve through apartnership with World Visionto grow organic tea. Photo: JonWarren/World Vision
Remember World Vision inyour Will, and leave a legacy thatchanges livesWorld Vision Australia is a Christian relief, developmentand advocacy organisation working to transform the livesof children, families and communities in need.Photo: Bridie Walsh/World VisionWe partner with people just like you to tackle thecauses of poverty and to seek lasting change for peoplein poor communities.Our work has made a significant difference over thedecades, however we know there is still much tobe done to eradicate poverty and its causes.That’s why I would like to extend an invitationfor you to leave a bequest to World VisionAustralia in your Will – it is an opportunityfor you to leave a legacy that changes lives.Every bequest makes a difference andcontributes to creating lasting change forchildren and families both overseas andhere in Australia’s Indigenous communities.I have included World Vision Australia inmy Will and encourage you to join me.Tim CostelloWorld Vision Australia Chief Executive5
A bequest is a gift that you leave in your Will for those youcare about.Leaving a bequest to World Vision is an opportunity for youto change the lives of children and families for generationsto come.Currently, bequests are used to support the seven keyareas of our work:A baby’s weight is checked at a health centre inBolivia. Photo: Ilana Rose/World Vision i mproving access to clean water and sanitation, andpromoting good hygiene; improving access to quality healthcare; h elping communities gain reliable access to nutritiousfood and ensure environmental sustainability;Create lasting change for childrenand families in need breaking the cycle of poverty through income generation; h elping communities lift themselves out of povertythrough education and life skills development; t aking a stand to protect children from abuse andexploitation; and p artnering with Indigenous communities to see childrengrow up happy, healthy and strong.6Depending on how you direct your bequest, it will eitherbe used for projects funded through our child sponsorshipprogram or equivalent or successor program, or to helpchildren and communities in the area(s) that require themost assistance at that time. As the priority areas wework in may change over time, we ask that you keep thewording of your bequest quite general. See page 10 forsuggested wording.
“ I loved to hear of [my husband] Bill’sinvolvement at World Vision [as a volunteer]. He always came home buoyed by thewonderful stories of the great work thatWorld Vision was doing across the world. Before he died, we agreed that we bothwanted to financially cater for those who hadnot been as fortunate as we were. We decided that including World Vision inour Wills for a percentage of our estate wasthe best way to do this.Photo: Lucy Aulich/World Vision Bill and I had always shared with theglobal community during our lifetime andwe decided that this was the perfect wayto continue to contribute even after wepass away.”– World Vision Australia bequestorNan Armstrong, Victoria7
A Will ensures that the distribution of your assets will becarried out in the way that you desire so your legacy cancontinue for generations to come.A Will also enables you to name an Executor who can carryout your wishes, and provide for guardianship of any minorsin your care.Having a Will means that you can decide how the peopleand causes you care about are provided for. It allows you tooutline your wishes for your property and assets, and anyother arrangements you might want to put in place.Above:Leakhena, centre, and her little brother and mother pick stringbeans in their garden in Cambodia. Leakhena is a sponsored child,and her parents, who are farmers, have also received agriculturaltraining from World Vision. Photo: Sopheak Kong/World Vision8
The most vital part of having a Willis to ensure it is valid, so it is a goodidea to seek legal advice.Having a solicitor or trusteecompany assist you in writing yourWill can help ensure the requiredlegal processes are followed, in linewith your wishes.When writing your Will it isimportant that you considerthe needs of your family anddependants, and let them knowabout decisions that affect them –including if you decide to leavea bequest to World Vision.Keeping your WillupdatedAs well as having a Will, it is importantto keep it up-to-date.A Will often needs to be updated whenyour circumstances change – for example,if you get married, buy property or havechildren. Any changes can be discussed with yourlegal advisor.Two girls enjoy learning at school in the Philippines. World Vision has partnered withthe local government, teachers and parents to help provide books, chairs, tables andclassrooms to a number of public schools in the Philippines which lacked appropriatefacilities and educational materials. Photo: Crislyn Joy A. Felisilda/World Vision9
“ We have both always been committedto donating to various causes and alsovolunteering in the community.When we put our Will together a coupleof years ago, we both wanted to be verygenerous with helping the causes we believein. We saw our Will as a chance to reallycontribute something significant.Having an interest in communitydevelopment and [being] concerned aboutpoverty around the world and in Australia,we already sponsored a child and so wereaware of the work World Vision did.We decided that making a bequest toWorld Vision was a great way for us tohave a greater impact on issues that areimportant to us.”– World Vision Australia bequestors Emily andKevin Russo, Queensland, pictured with son OscarPhoto: Kami Hazelwood/World Vision10
In Mozambique, Aida holds her sleeping baby, Graciosa. Aida and her family’s lives have beensubstantially improved through the simple provision of mosquito nets from World Vision.According to Aida’s husband, Eduardo, malaria used to be a constant problem for the familyof five: “It moved from one person to another. It never stopped,” he said.The nets have finally stopped the cycle of malaria. For Aida’s older children, thismeans they do not have to miss school which, in turn is improving their grades. For Aida’shusband, there are no longer any limits on his capacity to farm and he has been able toexpand his fields, leading to higher profits from rice, cassava and peanuts. Extra income hasallowed the family to build a new house and purchase beds for the children, who previouslyslept on mats on the floor. Photo: Jon Warren/World Vision11
Wills can be complex and there are many ways of including a bequest in a Will.We cannot provide you with legal advice so please ensure you obtain your ownindependent advice on the most appropriate wording.The following are examples of wording for yourconsideration as you write your Will.1. If you wish to leave a specific bequestA specific bequest is a gift of a particular amount of money oritem(s) of property (for example, a house, shares, artwork, etc.).You can direct your specific bequest to be used for differentpurposes. We suggest that you do not describe the purposesin too limited or narrow wording; please consider whether itwould be possible or easy for us to fulfil your wish. Popularpurposes (and ones we can easily fulfil) are: for generalpurposes of World Vision Australia, for projects fundedthrough our child sponsorship or equivalent or successorprogram, or to continue your existing child sponsorship.Below are examples of wording for Wills for these purposes:(a) For general support of World VisionFor a gift of money:“ I give [the sum of or%*] of my estate, free ofall duties, to World Vision Australia for its general purposes.”For a gift of property:“ I give [insert description of property], free of all duties, toWorld Vision Australia for its general purposes.”12(b) To child sponsorshipFor a gift of money:“ I give [the sum of or%*] of my estate,free of all duties, to World Vision Australia to be appliedtowards programs of World Vision Australia which arefunded through its child sponsorship or equivalent orsuccessor program.”For a gift of property:“ I give [insert description of property], free of all duties, toWorld Vision Australia to be applied towards programs ofWorld Vision Australia which are funded through its childsponsorship or equivalent or successor program.”(c) To continue your existing child sponsorshipFor a gift of money:“ I give [the sum of or%*] of my estate,free of all duties, to World Vision Australia, to be appliedfor the maintenance of the sponsorship of my sponsoredchild/children at the time of my death until, in the caseof each such sponsored child, the earlier of the date thechild attains the age of 18 years or ceases to be part ofWorld Vision Australia’s child sponsorship program. If Ido not have any sponsored child at the time of my deathor there is a balance remaining after maintenance of any
sponsorship, as described above, my gift shall be appliedfor the general purposes of World Vision Australia.”Australia, to support our child sponsorship program or tocontinue your existing child sponsorship.For a gift of property:“ I give [insert description of property], free of all duties, toWorld Vision Australia, to be applied for the maintenanceof the sponsorship of my sponsored child/children at thetime of my death until, in the case of each such sponsoredchild, the earlier of the date the child attains the age of 18years or ceases to be part of World Vision Australia’s childsponsorship program. If I do not have any sponsored childat the time of my death or there is a balance remainingafter maintenance of any sponsorship, as described above,my gift shall be applied for the general purposes ofWorld Vision Australia.”To achieve this, we suggest you use the above suggestedwording but replace the words “I give the sum of or%* of my estate to World Vision Australia” withthe following:We request that you do not provide a direct gift ofeither money or property for your sponsored child.Child sponsorship funds community-based developmentactivities which are designed to bring about long-termsustainable improvements in the wellbeing of children,families and their communities.If World Vision Australia is not the only residual beneficiary,but one of two or more to share equally, you could use thefollowing words:2. If you wish to leave a residuary bequestA residuary bequest is one where you give a portion or allof what is left in your estate after specific gifts (for exampleto family and friends) and taxes and debts are fulfilled.You can direct your residuary gift to be used for differentpurposes in the same way that you can direct your specificbequest (see above). For example, you can say yourresiduary gift will be for general support of World Vision“ I give the rest and residue of my estate to World VisionAustralia .”For example, to make a residuary bequest for generalpurposes, we suggest your Will says:“ I give the rest and residue of my estate, free of all duties,to World Vision Australia for its general purposes.”“ I give the rest and residue of my estate, free of allduties, to World Vision Australia and to [insert name(s)of other residual beneficiaries] in equal shares for theirgeneral purposes.”For more detailed information about leaving a bequest toWorld Vision, please contact us.* Choose either a dollar amount or a percentage.13
How do I leave a bequest to World VisionAustralia in my Will?How can I use my Will to support thework of World Vision Australia?A bequest to World Vision Australia in your Will is a wayfor you to leave a life-changing legacy and realise your visionfor a better world.You may choose to make a specific bequest toWorld Vision – which is a gift of a particular amountof money or item(s) of property – or you can make aresiduary bequest which leaves a portion, or all of yourestate to World Vision after specific gifts, taxes and debtsare fulfilled.If you include World Vision Australia in your Will, it isimportant to ensure that the wording is legally correct. Youcan refer to the suggested wording included in this guide, orvisit our website. You may also want to talk to your solicitoror trustee, or with someone from World Vision.Why is having a Will so important?Everyone should have a Will. It ensures that the distributionof your assets is carried out in the way that you want, andprovides for the people and issues you care about.When is the right time to write a Will?If you do not have a Will, it is advisable to write one as soonas possible. It is also important to update your Will whenyour circumstances change – for example if you get married,have children or buy property.A bequest can be made as part of a new Will or added toan existing Will via a codicil, which is simply an addition orchange to a Will.Can I choose a specific area ofWorld Vision’s work to support?We would ask that you keep your bequest quite generalso it is easier for us to fulfil your wish. We suggest that youdirect your bequest to the general purposes ofWorld Vision Australia, to continue your existing childsponsorship or for projects funded through our childsponsorship program or equivalent or successor program.Do I need assistance to write a Will?How can my bequest support childsponsorship if I am no longer here?We suggest the services of a solicitor or trustee companyto ensure your Will is legally sound. A solicitor can alsoadvise you on matters such as guardians, asset valuation andpower of attorney.Contributions made through child sponsorshipfund community-based development activities whichare designed to bring about long-term sustainableimprovements for children, families and their communities.14
As funds go toward supporting projects rather thanjust the needs of specific children, a bequest to our childsponsorship program can help World Vision continue thisimportant work with communities in need.A bequest can be directed to child sponsorship moregenerally or to completing the life-cycle of sponsorship foryour existing sponsored child and their community.If I include World Vision in my Will do Ineed to let you know?It is your decision; however by letting World Vision knowabout your bequest you will help us plan better for the future.If you would like to let us know of your decision to includeWorld Vision Australia in your Will, please call 1300 303 440or email bequests@worldvision.com.auEvelyn and her daughter Gracie spend time together at aplaygroup supported by World Vision in a Warlpiri community,Northern Territory. Photo: Lucy Aulich/World Vision15
If you are considering leaving a bequest to World Vision, thenext step would be to speak to your legal advisor. Together,you could look at either preparing your Will for the firsttime, or making a codicil (which is an addition or change) toinclude World Vision in your existing Will.If you would like to speak to someone from World Vision,please see our contact details on the back of this guide.We would love to hear from you.Please let us know about your bequestWe would also like to know if you have included World Visionin your Will. While an unexpected gift is always a nicesurprise, you will be helping World Vision even more if youinform us of your intention to leave a bequest. Not onlydoes this help us to plan for the future, it also allows us tothank you and share with you our long-term plans forWorld Vision.Gile and Melkamu, from Ethiopia, with sheep they were able to buywith earnings from their mother’s fuel-efficient stove business. Theirmother was trained by World Vision to make stoves that are energyefficient and virtually smoke free. Photo: Jon Warren/World Vision16Thank you for making a worldof difference for children andcommunities in need
CONTACT USIf you would like to find out more about leaving a bequestto World Vision Australia, or tell us about your decision toinclude World Vision in your Will, please contact us.Call 1300 303 440Email bequests@worldvision.com.auOr visit worldvision.com.au/bequests
2013 World Vision Australia. World Vision Australia ABN 28 004 778 081 is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organisation dedicated to working with children,families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Ref # 7123
World Vision Australia for its general purposes." (b) To child sponsorship For a gift of money: "I give [the sum of or %*] of my estate, free of all duties, to World Vision Australia to be applied towards programs of World Vision Australia which are funded through its child sponsorship or equivalent or successor program."
