Uncle Bob was a bit of an institution in our family.He was an ex RNZAF pilot from World War II, a dashing bachelor farmer who spoilt his nieces and nephews, and he loved birds – the feathered variety.During his time in the country, he tried to encourage the birds to his farm and became somewhat of an expert on native birdlife.He even set a side a parcel of land on his farm under a QEII Trust and established a flourishing wetland sanctuary.Then he met my Aunt.She shared his passion for the birds, and together they developed the wetland to become a well recognised sanctuary for birds, with lots of enthusiastic volunteer help from neighbours and locals.They ran their very successful farm for many years.When my Aunt succumbed to a rather aggressive cancer 10 years after they were married, Uncle Bob decided that he couldn’t run the farm on his own, and decided to sell and move town.But what would happen to the Wetland?To continue to be successful the area needed ongoing pest control to keep rats, possums and other mammals at bay as well as ongoing maintenance of fences, walkways and visitor tracks.Uncle Bob, being the wise old fella he was, got together with his volunteers and formed a Society to oversee the Wetland.He told them about how a Community Foundation could help them by allowing him to set up a Named Fund in memory of my Aunt, the proceeds from which would meet the ongoing costs of the wetland.He established the Named Fund with an initial donation of $50,000 and re arranged his will to bequeath a further $250,000 to the Fund when he died.He also agreed that the Named Fund could accept donations from other people who wanted to help develop and maintain the Wetland.Several of the volunteers and local dignitaries did make further donations, along with a number of his nieces and nephews, in honour of their Aunts memory.Uncle Bob was real, as was my Aunt and the affection we held for them both.The wetland is fictional, although not beyond the realms of my Uncle Bob’s real dreams.What the story does do is give a simple example of how you could honour a relative or friend in a permanent way and also take advantage of significant tax benefits if you give during your life time.If you are interested in making your “Uncle Bob” story come true, give me a call and we will help you establish your Named Fund.
