David Black has a long history of work in social justice. He is president of MoveUP representing about 12,000 union members at public and private sector companies in British Columbia. David has included a gift in his will to his charity of choice: United Way British Columbia. “It gives both my wife and I comfort to know that our presence and influence will continue on after we’ve passed,” said David Black. Throughout David’s career, he has been involved with non-profits, volunteering time when he was younger and had fewer monetary assets, and donating funds as he got older and more established. “In my role with MoveUP, it has become very clear to me that the quality of our members’ lives is just as important in the workplace as it is in our communities. In order to help our members improve their lives, it’s important to help them understand the importance of giving back and what better way to do that than through a gift in their Will.” explains David. “We decided very early on that we wanted to bring up our kids in better communities. And that means supporting services in the community, specifically those supported by United Way.” When our children are a little older we plan to discuss with them our plans. David wants his children to understand the importance of community involvement and giving back to community. Through his work with various philanthropic organizations over the years, David has learned what a difference a gift in a Will can make. “I knew what a difference a significant estate gift could make to the charitable organizations I had been involved with. We decided that when we no longer needed our assets, we could really make a big difference by leaving a gift in our Will to the charities we supported.” David also believes that most property owners in the Lower Mainland, don’t realize what assets they have and what could happen to those assets after you and your family have passed on. “Of course people want to make sure their families are looked after first. Additionally, I would encourage people to think about even a small gift in their Will to organizations they support.” Leaving a gift to a charitable organization can significantly reduce your taxes and in many cases you can leave more to your family and loved ones.” David and his wife both recognize how fortunate they are and want to share that with their community. When it comes time for you to prepare your will, get some advice: talk to a financial planner and a lawyer. Review and update your Will regularly. It is a living document that will change over your lifetime. Your influence can live on after you have gone and what a difference you can make to an organization that shares your values.
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