Celebrate Make a Will Week: October 6-12

October 6-12 is officially Make a Will Week, an annual initiative from the Government of BC to remind us all to write or update our wills. This week encourages everyone to take action in securing what matters most – your family, loved ones, and causes like LDS – Learn. Develop. Succeed. Writing a will is a powerful way to ensure the people, organizations, and charities you cherish benefit from your estate, leaving a legacy of care and commitment. 

Why Make a Will? 

Creating a will gives you control over your estate, making sure your assets reach the people, places, and charities close to your heart. Without a will, your estate may not be distributed as you would wish, and the administrative costs can quickly add up. Having a clear plan reduces the burden on those left to manage your assets. 

A will also opens the door to leaving a legacy gift to charities, allowing you to support the organizations that mean the most to you without affecting your current financial situation. Legacy gifts are flexible, adaptable to changing circumstances, and offer meaningful tax benefits. 

Remember, any gift, no matter the size, can make a substantial difference in the lives of those in need!  

Why Leave a Legacy in Your Will? 

At LDS, the needs of our families grow each year. Funds raised through legacy gifts are crucial for building and sustaining our internal bursary fund, which provides early and critical learning support for children, youth, and families in need.

“[My daughter] loves her sessions [at LDS] and there are so many benefits tracking, from actually gaining further proficiency in core subjects to self-esteem which, in her public school career, has been seriously deteriorating.  That she can come to LDS twice a week, learn, feel good about the learning, and have a relationship with an educator that is so productive means the world to her — to both of us!” 

Parent of Grade 7 RISE One-to-One student

How to Leave a Legacy Gift 

If you decide to include a charity in your will, it’s helpful to let the organization know so they can plan accordingly. There are several ways to make a legacy gift through your will: 

• Specify a cash amount (e.g., $10,000) 
• Allocate a percentage of your estate’s residue (e.g., 5.5%) 
• Bequest proceeds from the sale of assets (e.g., real estate) 

Legacy giving is within reach for everyone. In fact, more than 3 million Canadians have included a charity in their will, and 1 in 10 plans to leave part of their estate to charity.  

Make a Lasting Impact 

During Make a Will Week, take a moment to write or update your will to protect loved ones and continue supporting the causes that matter most. By leaving a legacy gift to LDS, you will help ensure we can continue providing critical support to families in need. For more information on how you can leave a legacy in your will, visit our How to Help page here. 

Together, we can make a lasting impact that will benefit future generations. 

– Katherine Withnall, Development Officer

LDS is a community of dedicated professionals who write collaboratively. We recognize the contribution of unnamed team members for their wisdom and input.