Giving where it matters most to her
Watching whānau battle serious illness has a way of shaping how a person gives. For Lilian Tangaere-Baldwin, it's shaped a lifetime of it.
Lilian's connection to health philanthropy in Gisborne-Tairāwhiti starts with her own family. Her brother, Ben, has needed dialysis treatment, and her whānau has felt the strain that comes with supporting someone through long-term care.
It's a reality shared by many families across the region. Māori and Pasifika communities are disproportionately affected by kidney disease, often linked to high rates of diabetes, and the public health system can only stretch so far. Sunrise Foundation's Dialysis Endowment Fund was set up to fill that gap. It funds the additional equipment and services that make dialysis treatment more comfortable and more accessible for local patients.
"Being a regular donor to the fund is one way that I can contribute to that change, helping to improve access to dialysis and wraparound support services for those who need them most," says Lilian.
Lilian's own history with Sunrise Foundation goes back more than a decade. As a past trustee, she helped lay the foundations for local philanthropy in Gisborne-Tairāwhiti, work that continues to shape how Sunrise supports the community today. She remains a committed supporter. She gives regularly to the Dialysis Endowment Fund, and she's leaving a gift in her will to Sunrise's General Fund.
The General Fund is Sunrise's most flexible source of support. It backs charitable organisations across Gisborne-Tairāwhiti through its annual funding round. For Lilian, leaving a gift there was an easy decision, a way of extending her care for the region beyond the causes closest to her own experience.
"I've always cared deeply about this region and the people who call it home," says Lilian. "Leaving a gift in my will is a way of continuing to support our community long after I'm gone. It's comforting to know that future generations will benefit from something that matters so much to me."
It's a legacy built quietly, decision by decision. Long after Lilian's own giving is done, it will still be paying for dialysis equipment and funding rounds across Tairāwhiti.
September is Wills Month
When you give through your local Community Foundation your gift (no matter what size) can be invested and grown into an ongoing source of funding. Have you considered leaving a gift in your Will, find out how you can make your gift last forever.
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