Leaving a legacy will help the cause

Published: 7 February 2010

CORRESPONDENT Frank Heenan ('Please consider a bequest', (CL 24/1) deserves a round of applause for encouraging people to make a bequest to charity, from their estate.

When I returned to my desk at Catholic Mission at the beginning of this year, I was delighted to find a cheque from a solicitor's firm, along with a letter indicating that it was the settlement from an estate.

The amount on the cheque was significant and will allow much valuable work to be undertaken.

Such generosity has a definite multiplier effect.

Interestingly, while our benefactor had been a donor their giving history had not been consistent or regular.

As such, we were humbled to have been chosen as one of a number of charities to benefit from this person's largesse.

Leaving a bequest from your estate is definitely one way of ensuring an ongoing legacy, as a Christian.

Mr Heenan is correct when he says that bequests are a cost-effective, fundraising option for charities; put another way, more money can be put to where it is most needed.

Mr Heenan's letter also is a timely reminder to ensure that our earthly affairs are in order (including having a current and legal will made out) before we are called to attend to our heavenly ones.

DAVID MCGOVERN
Director
Catholic Mission Brisbane