23 November, 2006
Awesome foursome for Australian charities
Four of Australia’s biggest charities, Australian Red Cross, Mission Australia, Heart Foundation and The Cancer Council Australia have joined forces for the first time in Australia’s history. They are pooling their energy and resources to communicate to the public about an issue which is common to them all - the importance of updating your Will and including a bequest to charity.
The campaign was created after the charities each shared their own statistics which showed unanimously that many people still do not understand how to leave a bequest, or how important they are to not-for-profit organisations. Currently, only 8% of Australians leave a bequest to charity in their Will.
“Collaborating on a social change campaign of this importance has proven to be very powerful,” says Mr Martin Paul, spokesperson for Include a Charity. By putting together the knowledge from across Australia’s best known charities, pooling our information and sharing the skills of our best people, we’ve managed to create a first.”
“The work that charities do is becoming increasingly dependent on bequests or gifts in Wills,” says Martin Paul. “Including a bequest to a charity in your Will is relatively easy to implement. Without such donations charities would not be able to help so many people through some of the most difficult periods of their lives.”
The jointly funded and created campaign will be released nationally from 27th November 2006, with all four charities hoping that it will raise awareness amongst Australians about an easy and simple form of giving which will protect the future.
“We analysed best practice here and overseas. Creating a joint venture on behalf of a whole industry enables us to deliver a consistent message and save money. All four charities have extremely strong brands, highly trusted by seniors and the general public. Our research, feedback from supporters and subsequent business case shows that together we may be able to institute social change far more effectively than each charity could individually,” says Martin Paul, spokesperson for Include a Charity.
“This campaign is about informing the public that anyone can include a charity in their Will - and it should be the charity of your choice. We are providing information about how easy it is to do, information about charitable giving in Australia as well as giving answers to many frequently asked questions. Anyone can make a bequest, they are not the exclusive domain of the wealthy and come from all corners of the community,” adds Mr Paul.
Other releases
|
