Alumni engagement and philanthropy



WILL TO GIVE WEEK 4-8 NOVEMBER 2019

05 November 2019

Income from legacy gifts to The Queen’s University of Belfast Foundation has helped ensure that young people with talent can come to Queen’s, regardless of their background, and benefit from the transformational opportunities that a world-class education presents.

Legacies also fund life-changing research, seeking to overcome some of the major health problems of our time, including cancer, cystic fibrosis, asthma and Multiple Sclerosis.

Speaking during Will to Give Week 2019, Queen’s Legacy Manager Susan Wilson, said: “Over the last 8 years we have received legacy gifts of varying sizes, all of which have supported important initiatives across the University in areas including widening participation, medical research and capital projects.

“While Northern Ireland has the highest rate of charitable giving in the UK – with 79 per cent of people here giving to a charity every year – it also has the lowest rate of legacy giving (2 per cent). Will to Give Week aims to highlight this disparity and to celebrate the impact of charitable legacy gifts across Northern Ireland.”

This year marks 15 years of Queen’s Lanyon Society – a unique group of graduates and friends who have pledged a charitable legacy in their wills to support life-changing research and education at the University.

“When you choose to leave a charitable legacy,” continued Ms Wilson, “you become part of the solution. You inspire the greatest minds and invest in world-class research. You change lives.

“And you can support the area of research or education which means the most to you at Queen’s.”

Helen Carrick, Head of Major Gifts at Queen’s University added: “We all know how generous people in Northern Ireland are when it comes to supporting good causes. Gifts in wills really are vital to charities like Queen’s – they help fund ground-breaking research into our most devastating illnesses, they make a huge impact on students and staff at the University and on the lives of many thousands of local people.

“During Will to Give Week we are not only celebrating the kindness of those supporters who have chosen to remember us in their will, but are also asking others to look out for information on what makes a ‘Good Will’ and how easy it is to leave a charitable gift to Queen’s."

Eimear McCooey, Chairperson of Will to Give said: “Recent statistics have shown that only one third of people in Northern Ireland have made a will. We are hoping that Will to Give Week will help raise awareness of this fact and encourage people without one to get theirs in order to help protect their loved ones when they die.

"In today’s society, there is no longer just the ‘traditional family’ and without a will in place, people have had their bank accounts frozen and lost their homes. Making a will is easy and not expensive, however we urge people to seek legal advice to ensure everything is done correctly.

"We have launched a new website which has lots of information to get people started including a downloadable sheet on the things that should be considered and a search engine for local Solicitors,” Eimear added.

The University’s most recent legacy newsletter can be found here with inspiring stories from the generous individuals (alumni and non-alumni) who have chosen to leave a gift to Queen’s.

For further information on Will to Give Week, visit www.willtogive.org. If you are considering leaving a legacy to Queen’s University Belfast, please contact Legacy Manager, Susan Wilson, on telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 3162.

To submit graduate news items, or for general enquiries about this story, please contact Gerry Power, Communications Officer, Development and Alumni Relations Office, Queen's University Belfast or telephone: +44 (0)28 9097 5321.

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