Brian McLoughlin
Legacy Fundraising Manager, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice
One way to ensure charities can continue their essential and special work is by leaving them a donation, big or small, in your will.
Charities depend on ongoing public generosity — without it, many can’t continue providing essential support during these tough economic times. Take LauraLynn, Ireland’s only children’s hospice, based in Leopardstown, Dublin with hubs in Ballinasloe, Galway and Mallow, Cork. This is a charity that provides symptom management, planned short breaks, crisis and end-of-life care for children with life-limiting conditions, plus support and bereavement care for families across Ireland.
Legacy giving supports charities
Their work is offered free of charge, so one way to make sure it continues long-term is by leaving a gift to the charity in your will. It’s relatively easy to make this type of donation, which is also known as ‘legacy giving.’ If you don’t have a will, you can either engage a solicitor to write one for you or use LauraLynn’s free will-writing service.
If you already have a will but haven’t yet left a donation in it, it’s a simple enough process to add one. Whatever amount of money you leave, you can be assured that you’ll be supporting a vital cause. What’s more, any charity donations are tax-free.
Leaving a donation in your will is
a beautiful and powerful thing to do.
Helping to reach as many children and families as possible
However, in Ireland, legacy giving is only just starting to take off says Brian McLoughlin, Legacy Fundraising Manager. “A lot of people aren’t aware that this type of donation is an option,” he says. “It’s important because it enables us to increase equity and access to our hospice services. We engage with families from 26 counties, so donations in wills help us reach as many children and families as possible, both at our purpose-built hospice in Leopardstown, in hospital or the comfort of a child’s home.”
Last year alone, LauraLynn — part of the My Legacy network of charities — engaged with 670 families. Its community teams made 3,199 community visits across Ireland, while its hospice team provided 1,677 nights of care. Meanwhile, its therapists provided 1,386 music and play therapy sessions at the hospice and in the community. “Those sessions are tailored to each individual child or family,” notes McLoughlin. “They create memories that last forever.”
These are just some of the reasons why legacy giving is important — and so welcomed. “It’s wonderful to think that, beyond your life, you can benefit children and families living with illnesses,” says McLoughlin. “Leaving a donation in your will is a beautiful and powerful thing to do.”
