Getting More Out of Giving

“We knew we were giving up community and great friends in the States when we moved but I didn’t realise starting over would require so much effort. Through our philanthropy, we’re meeting all sorts of people, we are both active in Whakatu Rotary - I am looking forward to being involved in literacy programmes in local kindergartens and Paul now consults,” says Cathy.

“The reality for us is that we worked hard throughout our respective careers and we’ve been very fortunate to build a modest estate. Now with the time and the resources, it’s about sharing those resources to support our community after we’re gone.”

Already donors to the Southern Oregon Community Foundation, the couple knew the magnitude of community foundation work and wanted to explore similar options here. After doing their own research, they made contact with the Top of the South Community Foundation, to initiate leaving a significant portion of their estate, locally.

“Once we heard there was a community foundation movement already operating here we said ‘sign us up’! We’ve already opened our fund and we know the money we leave through the Top of the South Community Foundation will have a ripple effect. It’s a wonderful thing as we contemplate the end of our lives to think about our resources being used far into the future,” enthuses Paul.

“Being a blended family we knew our estate was complicated and we needed to spend time on what would happen to it once we both shuffle off this mortal coil. We both agreed that as long as the kids are cared for, the rest will support the community.”

As a retired director of a theatre company, Paul admits he’s comfortable thinking about his own ‘curtain call’ and says facing death doesn’t have to be a scary concept.

“There’s a temptation to leave preparing a will until the very last stages of life but we all have to face the reality of death. If there’s no will, very often the way the estate is distributed is not what the individual would have wanted and that, in turn, causes all sorts of dissension and resentment in the family. So getting ahead of that is really important.”

Paul is quick to point out that his children are very supportive of his decisions.

“It makes me proud that the kids absolutely understand that it’s our money and it’s up to us to decide how it is distributed. There’s no sense of entitlement of receiving an inheritance. The children will get a portion of my estate but it won’t change their lives. Proportionately, our bequest will have far more significant impact supporting those in the community who desperately need it. I wish other families could do that too.”

Paul says he was in his 20’s when he first drafted his will and as he’s aged his priorities have changed. He’s urging others to get onto it and then keep updating their wills.

“Now our New Zealand will is in place and it’s been really transformative, I feel so at peace knowing things are taken care of in perpetuity. It couldn’t be better.”

In Oregon, Paul and Cathy supported a range of initiatives including homeless programmes, the arts, hospice, community heathcare and sponsored homes in rural villages in Mexico. Every year at Christmas it’s not about the gifts under the tree, but the gifts they’ve made to community.

Cathy adds “every year we choose in advance what we want to support and hopefully our acts are inspiring Paul’s children to consider charitable activity during their own lifetimes.

“We know that the Community Foundation vehicle is the most effective way to give back, they’re managed incredibly well and they can take of the programmes that are near and dear to our hearts, forever.”