Everlasting generosity made easy
Across the vast and rugged Canterbury region, people can live their lives if they have a serious accident the Rescue Helicopter Service free of charge, to look after them
Canterbury West Coast lives to the full, assured that or medical emergency, will be there day and night, them and their families.
In life and death situations, the unique speed and agility of a rescue helicopter makes all the difference; bringing life-saving equipment, rescue personnel and traumatrained medics directly to the patient.
A gift in your will
Our donors play a vital role in making the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust a highly respected charity that thousands of people rely on every year.
Through the ongoing generosity of our community, we help provide a 24-hour, 7 day a week, dedicated emergency service to the Canterbury West Coast region.
Every year, the Trust faces significant funding challenges. Government and ACC revenue only partially funds the services, leaving a significant, multi million dollar shortfall.
Without ongoing donor contributions, our ability to respond to emergency calls would be dangerously compromised. The harsh reality is that accident, trauma and illness do not discriminate
- anyone may need this service one day, and every second counts. We can’t always rely on the road ambulance to get to us quickly and with the required equipment.
The decision to leave a gift in your will directly supports our long-term financial wellbeing, enabling us to continue providing a first response to accident and medical emergencies, patient transfers, and search and rescue operations today and in the future.
In many cases, your gift really will be the gift of life.
You only need to look into the eyes of someone who has been saved to know the value of supporting the life-saving rescue helicopter service – Christine Prince, CEO.
How your gift can help
When you leave a gift in your will to the Trust, you can give direction on the area you would like it spent. Your gift could be invested in one or some of the following areas:
Service delivery
By donating to our general service delivery costs, you are providing us with the flexibility to respond to where the need is greatest in any given year. This flexible approach is particularly useful in an environment where needs and priorities change over time.
Pilot and crew training
Only the most basic of training is included in the Ministry of Health/Te Whatu Ora Ambulance contract. To keep the crew and pilots proactive and at a fully capable level, the Trust assists with upskilling and advancing their ongoing training. This includes bush survival, avalanche and snow response, off-shore winching, clinical training, and specialised critical care modules.
Training never stops, and thanks to the generosity of our community, we can ensure our team are operating at their peak performance whenever they are called out.
Capital expenditure and enhancements
In addition to a significant investment in supporting the operational costs of the Rescue Helicopter Service, the Trust also fundraises for the purchase and installation of technologically advanced, specialist equipment to enhance better care and outcomes for the patient.
Examples of capital expenditure include new harnesses, warming blankets, beacon trackers, crew helmets, defibrillators, medical packs, mechanical CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) devices, life-like simulation manikins, in-line fluid warmers, and ultra sound machines to detect internal bleeding.
Endowment Fund
Endowment gifts are a great asset to a charitable organisation because they provide a regular planned income that is always there. If you choose for your gift to be allocated to our endowment fund, no matter the amount, this will be added into the Trust’s managed capital fund which is then invested. The capital is protected against inflation so that it holds its value over time, and the interest generated from this investment can be drawn down and spent in accordance with the terms of the endowment fund.
All donations to the endowment fund are especially welcomed because they provide for the long-term financial success of the Trust, acting as a buffer in times of uncertainty or unprecedented circumstances, such as a pandemic. With our carefully managed fund, endowed gifts take care of emergencies, provide new advancements, and give our community the security of an uninterrupted Rescue Helicopter Service for years to come.
We’d be happy to advise on which area is in most need of support, but equally the Trust will always honour your wishes and your particular areas of interest.
The community of donors who give to the Trust is made up of unique individuals with wide ranging resources and connections to the service. Whether you state a specific donation amount or a percentage from the value of your estate, we are immensely grateful for every gift we receive.
If you would like to talk to someone from the Trust about leaving a gift in your will, we can provide you with further information and discuss your preferred way to give. If you do decide to leave a gift in your will, we would love to acknowledge this, and most importantly, thank you during your lifetime, if appropriate.
To everyone who is considering leaving a gift to the Trust, we want you to know:
• We understand that those close to you come first.
• We will always respect your privacy and promise that anything you discuss with us will be held in confidence.
• If you include the Trust in your will, your gift will be only used for providing an exceptional rescue helicopter service in the Canterbury West Coast region.
• Leaving a gift in your will is a deeply personal decision. If you would like to remain anonymous, just let us know.
• At any time, you can change your mind; we understand that circumstances and priorities change.
Leaving a gift in your will is a personal, private decision. Whilst you don’t have to involve us, we can help with the process. We are always happy to meet or call you for a confidential, no-obligation chat about how your gift can make a difference.
Common questions
To help with your consideration, here are some common questions about leaving a gift in your will to the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.
What can I leave to the Trust?
The majority of our donors choose to leave a sum of money. However, property, insurances, investments and other assets can also be gifted. When gifting money to the Trust, you can either leave a specific sum of money or you can leave a percentage (or share) of your estate*. The advantage of leaving a percentage of your estate is that it will only ever be the portion of the whole that you are comfortable giving. It also means the value of your gift will not erode over time with the effects of inflation and will remain as valuable a gift as it was when you first pledged it. Another option would be to leave a residual gift, which is the balance of your estate once all specific bequests have been allocated.
*estate - this means the total value of all property and assets owned by a person when they die
I am thinking of leaving a gift to help a specific region. Is this possible?
Whilst we invite you to identify the service areas or purpose you would like to support, we encourage you not to be specific about the geographical area where you would like your gift to be directed. Our service goes where the need arises and in the same way, we would not want to limit the reach of the funds we have been given, but rather direct our resources where they are most needed at any given time. Providing us with some flexibility means your gift will be used where the need is greatest.
Do I need to draw up a new will to include my gift?
No, you don’t need to make a new will to add a gift. A document called a codicil can be used to add the Trust as a recipient in an existing will. A legal adviser will need to be consulted for this, but it is inexpensive, quick and very easy to do.
If you have a family or inheritance trust in place, you may also wish to consider naming the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust as a beneficiary or include us in a “Memorandum of Guidance” or “Letter of Wishes” so that your intentions to leave a charitable gift can be honoured by the Trustees.
Do I have to tell the Trust about my intentions?
It is not a legal requirement to notify the Trust of your intentions, but we would love the opportunity to thank you and to make suitable acknowledgement of your generous giving during your lifetime. It also greatly assists us with our planning. We do not require the details of your gift, just that you have included us in your will.
If you do choose to inform us that the Trust is a recipient in your will, we respect your freedom to change your mind at any time.
If you decide you would like to leave a gift to the Trust, you may first want to discuss your wishes with key family members and those close to you. Next steps
We are always here to talk about supporting the Trust and answer any questions about how to make a gift.
For further information, please contact Kathryn Marshall, our Fundraising & Development Director, to arrange a time to meet in person or have a no-obligation chat. We also have an information pack that we can mail out to you on request.
Tel: 03 358 8244
Email: kathryn@airrescue.co.nz