News Release

As at 5 September 2013

Charities and communities set to benefit from people gifting in their wills.

The Include A Charity Trust is launching the ‘Include A Charity Week’ in New Zealand from 9 to 15 September. With it comes New Zealand’s first communications campaign to prompt awareness and positive action towards bequesting – the simple act of a person leaving a gift in a will to charity. It is also the first time 43 New Zealand charities have joined together to promote the opportunity for people to gift through their will.

Operating successfully for some years in the UK and Australia, 43 members of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand (FINZ) have brought the ‘Include A Charity’ campaign to this country with home-grown television and press advertising rolling out in September.

Include A Charity spokesperson Dianne Armstrong said “so far 43 charities have joined together to form a united voice behind a campaign that provides so much social good for our communities. In New Zealand approximately 60% of people don’t have a will and this campaign strives to encourage people to ensure their families and loved ones are looked after and also considering gifting to a charity they support. It’s one of the easiest ways to give.”

The Include A Charity campaign comes as charities look for other ways to help supporters and potential donors to make gifting easier. 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.

Dianne Armstrong says “many people can’t always give regularly, 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.

“The 43 members of the Include A Charity Campaign all have amazing stories about the gifts they have received. These are gifts that help future proof vital services and enable an on-going commitment to research.”

Include A Charity Week is from Monday 9 September to Sunday 15 September 2013 and is supported by television, online and newspaper advertising.

ENDS

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