A Gift in Your Will

(Bequest)

A charitable bequest is a gift made through your Will or Living Trust. In legal terminology, ‘bequeath’ is a verb form meaning ‘to make a bequest’.

Remembering Sechelt Hospital Foundation (formerly St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation) through a gift in your Will provides a lasting legacy for you to be remembered. This can take a number of forms. We are providing some suggestions of the types of gifts you may consider in your Will.

Cash bequest. A straight cash donation from your estate. You may designate its purpose, or allow the hospital to use it where it is most urgently needed.

Endowment Fund. The establishment of an endowment fund in your name or in your family’s name, from which the interest is used for a particular purpose – such as continuing professional education for Sechelt Hospital staff, or equipment purchases for pediatrics services.

Life Insurance. The designation of Sechelt Hospital Foundation as a beneficiary of a portion of the proceeds of, or of the entire proceeds of, a life insurance policy.

Real Estate. The designation of Sechelt Hospital Foundation as a partial or whole beneficiary from the sale of real estate.

Stocks and Bonds. The transfer of securities to Sechelt Hospital Foundation.

RRSP/RRIF’s. These gifts are arranged for after your lifetime.

Charitable Gift Annuity.

A Gift in your Will offers some benefits:

1. Simplicity – just a few sentences in your Will or Trust are all that is needed.
2. Flexibility – Because you are not making the gift until after your lifetime, then you can change your mind at any time.
3. Versatility – You can structure the bequest to leave a specific amount, contingent on something, or leave a specific percentage to Sechelt Hospital Foundation.
4. Tax relief – Possible estate charitable tax deduction.

Independent of your Will, some of the above donations can also be made while you are living, with the satisfaction and reward of seeing your gift contribution at work in your lifetime.

Make a donation in your Will by contacting the Sechelt Hospital Foundation office, sh.foundation@vch.ca, or 604.885.8637. We will work with you, your legal and financial advisors to ensure that your wishes will be met, and that the correct terminology is used for legal purposes.

When leaving a donation of any kind in your Will, arranging an Endowment, making arrangements to donate Real Estate, proceeds from Life Insurance, RRSPs or RRIFs, creating a Charitable Annuity, or preparing a gift of Securities it is recommended that you work with your professional financial and legal advisors. Please feel free to contact us at Sechelt Hospital Foundation at or email us at sh.foundation@vch.ca for guidance and assistance.