Wills, Bequests, Foundations
SMILES
The Extraordinary Power of
And how a gift in Will can make sure childhoods are full of them
Camp Quality began in 1984, when a caring person saw the distress of children diagnosed with cancer and wondered how they could possibly ease it.
Ever since then, Camp Quality and our supporters have worked, donated, fundraised and volunteered so that no matter how hard cancer makes a child’s life - they have opportunities to laugh, make friends and have new adventures.
Camp Quality’s services and programs now also support children facing the diagnosis of a loved one.
Here at Camp Quality we believe the most important question any of us can ask about our time in the world is this: “What difference do I make?” The difference you can make by including children facing cancer and their families in your Will is simple, beautiful, and life -affirming.
Through a gift to Camp Quality in your Will, you can make sure facing cancer will always have a reason to smile.
Camp Quality has always been about the powerful difference you make when you help a child facing cancer forget about hospitals and treatment and create positive memories that help change the cancer story.
At every opportunity –in hospital, at school, at home and away from it all on Camps and Retreats– Camp Quality puts smiles on the faces of children throughout the daily ups and downs of cancer.
We know that the possibility of a positive experience ahead can motivate children to get through difficult, lonely, or painful days.
Including Camp Quality in your Will is a gift of enduring love. You will help give children and families opportunities to reconnect, build a community with others in a similar situation and have uplifting experiences while they are dealing with cancer. You will create memories that change their story at every stage of the cancer experience. You will give children and their families a reason to smile – always.
We are very lucky to be in such a wonderful country with such thoughtful people who care about children’s wellbeing.
Gifts in Wills come is all shapes and sizes ranging from a small dollar amounts, to the gift of an estate. Gifts of any size are valuable and make a very big difference for children and families facing cancer.
One such Gift in Will is an amazing beach house which has been set up as a Retreat for the families of Camp Quality. This house was left in Trust through their Will, including funding to set up the beach house as a Retreat.
The Retreat provides families facing cancer the opportunity to spend a week together to reconnect and relax, spend quality time together as a family and have “time out” from cancer at no financial expense. This Retreat has helped create lasting and positive memories particularly for palliative families, who have lost a child to cancer.
The below testimonial is from a family, who stayed in the Retreat, which coincided with the anniversary of their son’s passing
I am writing to express my sincerest gratitude for the most generous gift of our family holiday for the third anniversary of our precious son gaining his angels wings. We were very humbled that you thought to offer this holiday to us and were blown away by your generosity from the flights and accommodation to the dolphin watching cruise and food vouchers.
The Retreat is an incredible facility for families to escape treatment or grief, everything has been thought of. We did not feel that we were in sterile holiday accommodation but rather in a beautiful house with all the comforts of home. We appreciated every little detail. The beach towels, step stools for the children, cot, change table, books, games, fishing gear, beach equipment, movies, pantry items, kids’ cutlery and so much more. Each day I noticed something new that contributed to us having a complete, relaxing break from reality.
We truly feel that we escaped. You gave us permission to get on a plane and run away from work, home, responsibilities and people and I’m not sure even we realised just how much we needed to do that. I am quite a highly-strung person and I have not felt that relaxed in a very long time. We were given time to spend together as a family without the day to day stresses. We were able to stop, reflect and remember our darling boy and were surrounded by signs that he was there with us. He was in every sunrise and sunset, in the rain, wind and rainbows. He was so close to us every moment and to be honest, I didn’t want to leave. I have left a big part of my heart in that home and we know that it will become a special holiday destination for our little family in the future. You handed us a gift that we could never have afforded ourselves at this point in time and we are so very grateful.
I cannot stop thinking about what a wonderful person must have been to have left the house. What a truly amazing gift to leave to families like ours who are facing the hardest challenges that any parent should have to. I hope they are looking down proudly, knowing they are making a huge difference and touching the lives of people who need it most. So, to them, their family, the Trust, yourselves and all who work tirelessly at Camp Quality to give oncology families a reason to smile, thank you. Thank you from the very bottom of our hearts for all you do to make grieving families and families of seriously ill children experience some sunshine and light in their days.
Camp Quality is honoured to have been given the opportunity to call this home for our families.
If you have questions or would like to request further information, please give our Gifts in Wills Coordinator a call on 02 9876 0546 or email bequests@campquality.org.au
Salvos’ Moneycare financial counselling service
The Salvation Army is an international movement, working in more than 125 countries. It has been serving the Australian community for 139 years, engaging with every demographic and every age group. From big cities to country towns and isolated homesteads, The Salvation Army gives hope where it’s needed most to over 152,000 people every year.(1)
A recent review of Salvation Army clients found more than 60 percent of people who access the Salvos’ Moneycare financial counselling service are women (2). Moneycare provides information and support to help individuals, couples and families through a range of financial situations. This includes helping write a budget and repayment plans, and assisting with debt collectors. In the past 12 months, Moneycare supported more than 18,000 people with financial counselling (2).
These services are a lifeline of hope to people like Elizabeth. Divorced with adult children, Elizabeth was grieving the loss of both parents, living with her sister in a new town, battling health issues and had piling bills.
Eventually, Elizabeth took the advice of her counsellor and contacted The Salvation Army’s Moneycare service. “A weight lifted off my shoulders…”
she says. “We got all my finances worked out.”
With her life back on track, Elizabeth began to volunteer with her local Salvos and Moneycare service. Thanks to The Salvation Army, Elizabeth says, “I have a life now!”
Every day, The Salvation Army Moneycare supports people who are facing financial trouble due to problems managing debt, budgeting issues and health problems. More than one quarter of the clients who recently accessed Moneycare’s services were over 55 years of age (2).
“Older women have become the unexpected face of poverty in Australia,” says Salvation Army Officer Major Paul Moulds. “Their life as a primary carer, in the majority of cases, sets back their superannuation and employment options later in life.”
The Salvation Army is committed to coming alongside Australians in need to love, serve, give hope and transform their lives. This life-changing work is only possible through a solid network of partnerships with the wider community, bequestors, philanthropists and , corporate businesses. These ever-growing relationships allow for an increased impact of The Salvation Army on the lives of Australians in crisis. Together, with the Australian community, The Salvation Army can give hope where it’s needed most.
1The Salvation Army Australia, Service and Mission Information System, July 2017 – June 2018.
2One Step At A Time — Five Year Financial Counselling Analysis, The Salvation Army Australia. Policy, Research and Social Justice Department, 2019.
Most of us don’t think about it very often, but having a Will is the simplest way to make sure the people who matter to us are taken care of when we’re gone. And it doesn’t have to be difficult or costly.
The Salvation Army offers a community service in which generous and independent solicitors prepare simple Wills in exchange for a $70 contribution to our work. It’s a great way to ensure you have a Will that reflects your wishes, while also supporting Australians in need.
There is no obligation to leave a gift in your Will to The Salvation Army. If, after taking care of your loved ones, you would like to support our work, please advise the solicitor at your appointment.
To find your closest location and make an appointment, please visit salvationarmy.org.au/willsday
or call 1800 337 082
A gift for future generations
“Having met some of the parents and brave children at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick we couldn’t think of a better way to give back.” – Michele Topcic
Retired financial planners, Michele and Mario Topcic, were planning an overseas trip a few years ago and knew the importance of putting their estate plans in order before travelling. They decided to update their Wills and chose a few charities to include, one of them being Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.
“We considered children’s charities that had a strong presence and good reputation within the community, that directed funds to areas that needed it the most," says Mario.
“We knew of the incredible work the Hospital were doing to care for sick children, and we wanted to help this continue,” says Michele.
“Not a lot of charities get the support they need,” says Mario, “so it gives you a sense of satisfaction knowing that your contribution is going on to help others. Our hope is that our gift, along with other legacies, will have a role in ensuring the Hospital is always there to provide the best care by investing in research, technology and medical equipment that changes and saves children's lives.
“When we told the Foundation we had left a gift in our Will they asked us to become Sunshine Guardians, so now we’re part of the Foundation family,’ says Michele. It’s lovely to receive Hospital updates and invites to special events.”
Mario and Michele feel so positive about their choice they now encourage friends to consider including Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation in their Wills.
“We can’t think of a better legacy to leave than supporting future generations,” says Michele. “It gives so many children the best possible chance to lead a happy and healthy life. We feel incredibly happy knowing we'll make a difference, and proud that we can play our part in the Hospital's ongoing success.”
“Having met some of the parents and brave children at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick we couldn’t think of a better way to give back.” – Michele Topcic
Retired financial planners, Michele and Mario Topcic, were planning an overseas trip a few years ago and knew the importance of putting their estate plans in order before travelling. They decided to update their Wills and chose a few charities to include, one of them being Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation.
“We considered children’s charities that had a strong presence and good reputation within the community, that directed funds to areas that needed it the most," says Mario.
“We knew of the incredible work the Hospital were doing to care for sick children, and we wanted to help this continue,” says Michele.
“Not a lot of charities get the support they need,” says Mario, “so it gives you a sense of satisfaction knowing that your contribution is going on to help others. Our hope is that our gift, along with other legacies, will have a role in ensuring the Hospital is always there to provide the best care by investing in research, technology and medical equipment that changes and saves children's lives.
“When we told the Foundation we had left a gift in our Will they asked us to become Sunshine Guardians, so now we’re part of the Foundation family,’ says Michele. It’s lovely to receive Hospital updates and invites to special events.”
Mario and Michele feel so positive about their choice they now encourage friends to consider including Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation in their Wills.
“We can’t think of a better legacy to leave than supporting future generations,” says Michele. “It gives so many children the best possible chance to lead a happy and healthy life. We feel incredibly happy knowing we'll make a difference, and proud that we can play our part in the Hospital's ongoing success.”
