Starlight Children s Foundation Freecall 1300 727 827 www.starlight.org.au Leave a smile behind. New South Wales Level 3, 80 Chandos St. St Leonards NSW 2065 Ph: 02 9437 4311 Fax: 02 9437 4634 Email: nsw@starlight.org.au Victoria & Tasmania 128 Jolimont Rd East Melbourne, VIC 3002 Ph: 03 9663 3300 Fax: 03 9663 2800 Email: vic@starlight.org.au South Australia Ph: 1300 727 827 Email: sa@starlight.org.au Queensland Level 7, ANZ Building, 324 Queen St. Brisbane QLD 4000 Ph: 07 3223 9400 Fax: 07 3220 3179 Email: qld@starlight.org.au Western Australia Suite 4, 1152 Hay St. West Perth, WA 6005 Ph: 08 9420 5999 Fax: 08 9420 5900 Email: wa@starlight.org.au A gift in your Will to the Starlight Children s Foundation.
A hundred years from now it won t matter what my bank balance was, the sort of home I lived in or the car I drove... Contents About Starlight 1 2 The importance of a Will 3 Who should have a Will 4 Changing your Will 4 Leaving a bequest to Starlight 5 6 Starlight programs and services 9 12 Honouring your support 12 Checklist 13 Help us plan for the future 14... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child. ( A N ON )
Brightening the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children. Since 1988 The Starlight Children s Foundation Australia has brightened the lives of seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families, by delivering innovative programs that restore the laughter and joy that serious illness takes away. Working in partnership with the health care profession, our Distractive Therapies are designed to be an integral part of the total health care of children, empowering them to address the social and emotional aspects of living with serious illness or injury. Starlight offers a ray of light in the darkness and recognises that when a child is seriously ill, the entire family is affected physically, emotionally and often financially. Through innovative program delivery. Starlight provides multiple touch points that enable these children and their families to connect with the magic of the Starlight world: Captain Starlight the human touch Starlight Wishgranting & Escapes the experience Starlight TV, Radio & Fun Centres the diversion and entertainment Starlight Express Rooms & Starlight Express Vans in major hospitals and visiting metro, regional and remote areas. Supported by research and the Health Profession. Starlight s diverse programs and services deliver meaningful benefits. Research has shown that our work: stimulates the senses and lifts the spirits promotes the healing process and shortens hospital stays reduces the need for frequent pain medication provides more positive memories of hospital assists the health care team in patient compliance and brings young patients and their families together in a time of need. Looking after a child with a chronic or life-threatening illness requires a comprehensive, total approach to care. Their illness can bring about massive disruption, and for them, even trying to be a normal child is a challenge, if not a dream. Total care means more than excellent medical care it s a healing environment that includes entertainment, diversion, fun, laughter and joy. Starlight is a key partner in providing these aspects of care...they are a wonderful addition to providing a total care environment. Professor Les White, Executive Director Sydney Children s Hospital. So many more we need to reach. Each year over 600,000 children are hospitalised across Australia with an increasing number of children spending extended periods recuperating in the home following hospital treatment. Starlight s programs are currently reaching only one in three of these young patients and their families. Leave a smile behind. By leaving a gift in your Will, you can help the Starlight Children s Foundation to continue its valuable programs across Australia. Your support can ensure that Starlight provides a healing environment for many more seriously ill and hospitalised children, and their families, now and in the future. 1 2
The importance of a Will. A Will is a legal document that sets out how you would like your assets shared amongst those you care about, after your death. This collection of assets is also known as your Estate. A bequest or legacy is a clause within a Will relating to a particular gift or share of your estate. All adults should have a Will, and have it updated whenever their life or family situation changes. Often, a Will is the last thing we want to think about. Yet having a valid and up-to-date Will is an important part of financial planning and ensures your loved ones and the causes that are important to you are provided for, whatever the future holds. Without a Will, your assets (e.g. property, car, jewellery, superannuation) will be distributed according to the laws of the State rather than your wishes. Not having a Will can also cause a great deal of worry and expense to your family. Who should have a Will? Anyone over the age of 18 should have a valid Will and update it every 3 5 years so that it reflects any changes in your circumstances, such as: If you get married or intend to get married If you have children If you separate from your spouse or de facto partner If you divorce If you purchase or sell a significant asset or investment (e.g. house) If you get involved in a new business, company or trust When children or grandchildren turn 18 Changing your Will. You can make minor changes or additions to your current Will. This is known as a Codicil. Your solicitor will help you implement this change. For the Codicil to be effective, it must be signed and witnessed. This is the simplest way of including a charity in your current Will. 3 4
Leaving a bequest to Starlight. If you choose to make a bequest to Starlight, the main types of gifts are as follows: A residuary gift. After providing for your family and friends and once all debts and expenses are paid out, you may choose to leave all or a percentage of the remainder of your estate to Starlight. A residuary gift is a popular choice and also a good way of preserving the relative value of your gift, as assets do change in value over the course of a lifetime. Suggested wording to include in your Will: I give the rest and residue of my real and personal property whatever and wherever situated to the Starlight Children s Foundation Australia for its general purposes, free of all death and estate duties. I declare that the receipt of the Secretary or other authorised officer of Starlight will be a sufficient discharge to my Executors. A specific gift. This could be a specific amount of money or item such as artwork, jewellery, shares, property or other forms of investments. Suggested wording to include in your Will: I give the sum of $ or named item (e.g. shares, jewellery) to the Starlight Children s Foundation Australia for its general purposes, free of all death and estate duties. I declare that the receipt of the Secretary or other authorised officer of Starlight will be a sufficient discharge to my Executors. Any amount you leave to the Starlight Children s Foundation will be truly appreciated and will help us to continue to brighten the lives of seriously ill children for many years to come. 5 6
Starlight is like a gasp of air in between being dumped by huge waves. Starlight parent
Your gift will help us continue to spread the magic. Your gift will help us continue to provide entertainment programs to many more special children and their families in the future. Starlight Express Rooms and Captain Starlight. Starlight Express Rooms are havens within major children s hospitals. With Captain Starlight at the helm, and with the help of trained volunteers, hospitalised children and their families can escape to these Rooms to have fun, hang out and simply be kids; enjoying live shows, celebrity visits, computer games, movies, craft and so much more! Starlight s goal is to provide a Starlight Express Room in every major paediatric hospital in Australia. Currently, there are Starlight Express Rooms in the Sydney Children s Hospital, Randwick; The Children s Hospital at Westmead; John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle; Royal Children s Hospital, Melbourne; Mater Children s Hospital, Brisbane; Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth; and a smaller Starlight Room in the Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne. Starlight Fun Centres. Starlight Fun Centres are mobile interactive entertainment units that can be wheeled to the bedside of hospitalised children in paediatric wards around Australia. When a child is in hospital, they are often in pain, lonely and bored. Starlight Fun Centres are wheeled to the bedside of a child, providing distraction and bringing some joy and entertainment into the child s life. Even late into the night, when children can t sleep due to their illness, they can watch a movie or play a game, and escape their surroundings. Starlight Fun Centres bring a children s ward to life, encouraging interaction and making hospital fun! 9 10
Captain Starlight on the Road. Captain Starlight hits the road in the Starlight Express Van, lifting the spirits of children in remote, regional and smaller metropolitan hospitals. They spread the magic of a Starlight Express Room with a range of activities including interactive games, mini shows, karaoke, crafts and magic tricks. Starlight Escapes. Starlight Escapes bring families together giving them a much-needed break from the hardship of illness and hospitalisation. Families can enjoy activities such as sporting events, a night at the ballet, an outing to the zoo or a live concert. Starlight families often enjoy group outings, benefiting from the support of other parents and children in similar situations. Starlight Escapes are made possible through the generosity of individuals, local communities, small groups and corporations who host events and donate tickets. Starlight Wishgranting. Every child has a special wish, and Starlight Wishgranting makes these wishes come true for seriously ill children. Whether it s a computer, meeting a celebrity, a family holiday or even an amazing experience such as swimming with turtles; Starlight Wishgranting provides positive distraction, taking children s minds off the pain, stress and isolation of living with a serious illness. What s more, their wish involves the entire family, creating memories to treasure for a lifetime. Honouring your support. If you are planning to, or have already named Starlight in your Will, we would like to recognise your support by inviting you to become a member of Starlight s special friends society. You will receive a number of benefits such as: Invitations to attend special functions and events Visits to Starlight Express Rooms Special Starlight pin Quarterly newsletter Star News Special stories about the children Inscribed into Starlight s Honour Book (only with your permission) 11 12
Checklist. My Will is up to date. Your Will should be updated as your circumstances change, at least every three to five years. My dependants are provided for. You have ensured all of your loved ones are taken care of. I have appointed suitable executor/s. Your executor/s should be competent to carry out your instructions. I own all assets that I have bequeathed in my Will. You can only leave assets owned by you or which you have a share in. The intentions in my Will are clear and precise. This avoids confusion and disagreements down the track. I have made provision for my debts to be paid from my estate. Specifying your debts are paid before distribution of your assets ensures your beneficiaries do not inherit any of your debts. My Will has been drafted in the proper manner by a legal representative. To ensure your Will is valid and legal, it is recommended you use a solicitor or trustee company. Where applicable, guardians have been nominated. If you have young children you should consider nominating guardians to care for them in the event that something happens to you. I have not used beneficiaries or their spouses to witness my Will. Using a beneficiary to witness your Will usually disinherits them from their entitlements to your estate. My Will is stored in a safe place. It is advisable to have the original stored in a secure place such as your solicitor s strongroom or at your local bank branch. Also ensure you have informed your executor/s as to the whereabouts of your Will. Remember to include the Starlight Children s Foundation in your Will. You can leave a smile behind by brightening the lives of Australia s seriously ill and hospitalised children for years to come. Help us plan for the future. If you have named Starlight in your Will you are under no obligation to inform us of your decision. However, if you do let us know your intentions it may help us understand your wishes and thank you personally. Your future support is extremely valuable to us and we would like to thank you personally for your gift. To assist Starlight, your answers to the following questions would be appreciated. Please take a moment to complete the following and return in the reply paid envelope provided or post to your nearest Starlight office (details at the back of this booklet). Please be assured that we will respect your privacy and that all information will be treated in the strictest confidence. Yes, I have made a provision for Starlight in my Will. I intend to make a provision for Starlight in my Will. Please visit or phone me to discuss leaving a bequest. The best time to call is on (Day) Between am/pm and am/pm My name is Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Dr/Other First name Surname Address Suburb/Town Contact phone Date of birth Postcode 13 14