Kay’s kindness: Why she is leaving a gift in her Will

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born in England and my family moved to New Zealand in the 1950s.  I began my working life at 16 when I got my first job at a bank. I retired from work in 2017 and live in Nelson. 

I first became aware of refugees and displaced people in the 1960s and 70s during the Vietnam war and the dire famine in Bangladesh. I saw the suffering of people on TV each night and it made a deep impact on me.

This started my interest in helping others less fortunate than myself. From an early age, I have donated to causes I feel strongly about. My first opportunity to do this was when I sponsored a Korean child through a children's fund when I was about 17.

Since then, I have contributed to a wide number of national and international causes. Helping children and animals is particularly close to my heart. 

Why did you choose to leave a gift in your Will to Aotearoa New Zealand for UNHCR?

Recently, I have seen a lot of images of crises and displaced people on TV. I noticed the UNHCR logo on tents in refugee camps and that made me curious to find out more. So I searched online and that took me to your website. Learning about the wide range of work that UNHCR does inspired me.

I decided to leave an amount to UNHCR in my Will as a safe way of ensuring my gift would be received by, and make a difference to, those in need in the future.

I’m also aware of many refugees who have settled in the Nelson area, and they deserve our help.  

What would you say to someone considering leaving a gift in their Will to support refugees?

Leaving a gift in your Will is simple and I would say to anyone: “do it if you are able to”. I believe New Zealanders are generous and caring, and this is a worthwhile cause.

How do you want to be remembered? One of the most inspiring ways to ensure your values live on is to leave a gift in your Will, like Kay.

We’ve partnered with Gathered Here, a trusted online Will provider, to offer you a simple and free online service. Writing your Will online is quick and easy. 

It only takes a few minutes to ensure your loved ones are taken care of – and to include a life-changing gift for refugees.  

WRITE YOUR WILL FOR FREE

For more information, please contact Aylin Salt, our Senior Bequest Manager, at  [email protected]