It is often a daunting task to acknowledge one’s mortality and broach the topic of life after death. In life, we can give our time as volunteers or share our many blessings with others in need.
My grandmother often said one should try to find the humour in tragedy, yet for too many, life is a myriad of tragedies and no laughing matter. But humour can alleviate the angst of discussing life after death. In having the conversation with my daughter about leaving a Legacy Gift to United Way, she intuitively understood the true value of my philanthropic intentions. She reminded me of something my dad, who had a remarkable wit and a most generous spirit, was often heard to say, “Did you ever see a hearse pulling a U-Haul?”
In life we are all created equally, but the same cannot be said for the way opportunity and good fortune present themselves. Society can often be cruel and most unfair to those who struggle to find a way to face each new tomorrow. Leaving a gift in my Will guarantees that a light will shine with hope on the darkest of someone else’s day.
Humbled by the Seventh Generation Principle, which is based on an ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) philosophy, I too believe that the current generation should continue to live and work on behalf of the next seven generations. Today we can decide that even in death, we must leave a legacy honouring that principle. Every gift, great or small, will leave a powerful impact.
A Legacy Gift, such as a gift in your Will, can help build a healthier community for generations to come. I choose to leave my gift to United Way because I trust that it will be used to have a positive impact on the lives of many community members who will need a helping hand long after I’m gone.
Through United Way, Legacy Gifts help fund many local charities’ programs. Members of my family, along with friends and neighbours, have crossed the threshold of many a doorway where the United Way logo was displayed, and without funding from United Way some of these programs would not have been made available to them.
In life we are all created equally, but the same cannot be said for the way opportunity and good fortune present themselves. Society can often be cruel and most unfair to those who struggle to find a way to face each new tomorrow. Leaving a gift in my Will guarantees that a light will shine with hope on the darkest of someone else’s day.
I encourage you to have the discussion with your family about leaving an invaluable legacy of love when you can no longer be here to donate your time and energy to those in need. Help United Way continue to achieve its goals to improve lives and build a stronger community. Continue to give after you live.
Written by: Susan Erskine-Fournier
Life Celebrant/Officiant, Red Feather Society Member and Legacy Donor
If you are interested in learning more about Legacy Giving, call us at 905-688-5050 ext. 2113 or learn about United Way’s Forever Fund online.
