That is the plea Queenstown’s community foundation is making during Wills Month this month.
Noting only 6% of New Zealand wills include a gift to charity, 45South Community Foundation chief executive Jennifer Belmont says "a will provides peace of mind for families, but it can also be a powerful tool for shaping the future of the place we call home".
By including a gift to charity through 45South or by establishing your own fund, locals can ensure their generosity benefits the area for generations to come, she adds.
Belmont says gifts in wills made through 45South are invested, with the income supporting charities or causes people care about.
Foundation chair Steve Brent and his wife Sheena Haywood are both active in the local community but, because the region has given them so much, they also want that to continue beyond their lifetimes.
"For us, leaving a gift in our wills to 45South Foundation is about love for this community," they say.
"By giving through 45South, we know our legacy will remain local, and responsive to the needs of future generations.
"It’s great knowing we can keep making a difference in the place we love forever."
Aside from encouraging locals to contribute towards the community, Wills Month is also designed to prompt people to create a will, if they haven’t made one or, if they have one, to consider if it needs updating.
For information about 45South, visit www.45southfoundation.org.nz
