Although both are no longer with us, their legacy of giving continues today. When Gwendolen passed in 2020, she left our organization a generous gift in her will. It was a decision she and John, who passed away in 2019, had thoughtfully made together.

Born in Leicester in the United Kingdom in 1931, Gwendolen (or Gwen, to her friends) was known for her lively spirit and love of performing. She and John moved to Canada in 1957, settling in Vancouver where she became a mainstay in the area’s theatre scene, acting, singing and directing for various theatre companies, all while working full time at CIBC and later at the BC Children’s Hospital. One of her favourite roles was dressing up as Mrs. Claus, with John playing Santa, for the kids at Vancouver’s Ronald McDonald House.

“She liked to laugh, she liked to bring joy to people,” says Gwen’s close friend, Jane Marynowski. “And I think this whole thing about her charities that she was so attached to, was she knew she was bringing joy to other people’s lives. That was important to her.”

In her late sixties, Gwen took a trip to India to see some of our projects in person. She travelled with Marilyn Gullison, daughter of Dr. Ben Gullison, whose work in India inspired our founder Art Jenkyns to start Operation Eyesight.

Although she was already a world traveller, the trip had a profound effect on Gwen.

“I think she found travelling in India to be a little different than her usual travels,” says Jane, who heard a lot of stories about that trip from Gwen, even decades later. “I think that really strengthened this attitude of gratefulness that she had. What she saw over there really did have an impact.”

Today, Gwen and John continue to make their own impact on people across the globe with their generous final gift, which will help us prevent blindness and restore sight for years to come. We are grateful to Gwen and John for their thoughtful, loyal support over the years!

Have you ever considered making a donation in your will? Learn more about Legacy Giving.

The post A lifetime and legacy of giving appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

She first learned about Operation Eyesight when she met Dr. Ben and Evlyn Gullison in 1985 after their return from a medical mission in Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Reddy’s home state in India.

“I was impressed by the work they initiated in Andhra Pradesh. I decided to raise funds by organizing annual luncheons at Mahalakshmi Temple in Vancouver,” Dr. Reddy says.

Dr. Reddy’s support for Operation Eyesight has extended nearly 40 years and will endure through the gift in her will.

“In honour of Dr. Ben and Evelyn Gullison, and what they did for my country and home state, I decided to make Operation Eyesight the beneficiary of my life insurance.”

There are many ways to leave a legacy that will provide lasting access to safe, affordable and quality eye health care.

Do you also have dreams for your future legacy? Check out our free Will Preparation Guide.

The post Why one donor is leaving a gift to Operation Eyesight in her will appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

Often, people think about contributing to a cause they care about by making monthly donations, volunteering their time or advocating on social media – but a growing number of people are taking their philanthropy one step further by leaving a charitable gift in their wills. These ordinary Canadians recognize that they can make a powerful contribution that will last for generations, without taking away from the resources they and their family need now.

We are fortunate that many longtime donors and new supporters have already notified us that Operation Eyesight is included in their will. Thank you! This forward-thinking mindset has been sparked in Canadians of all ages; they understand that it is possible to do more simply by giving in another way.

If more Canadians left even a small percentage of their estate to charity, the sum of all their efforts could represent as much as $40 billion to advance charitable causes. We could literally eliminate avoidable blindness for the whole world with that kind of capital!

You may be surprised to learn that a donation of one per cent could result in a much bigger gift than you ever thought possible. You would still be leaving 99 per cent of your estate to your loved ones while supporting your favourite charity.

The best part is that leaving a gift in your will can be a simple process. Here are some suggestions for getting started:

Calculate your donation. With a simple calculation, you can determine how much you want to leave to Operation Eyesight, and how much you want your loved ones to receive. The Legacy Calculator on our Will Power webpage is a unique tool to help you with this calculation. It’s available because we have partnered with Will Power, a national public education campaign designed to inspire Canadians to consider charitable giving in their will.

Discover the tax benefits. Did you know that the Canadian government has created some of the best tax incentives in the world to encourage more giving to charity, especially from your estate? That’s right! To share an example, this article illustrates how a couple’s financial advisor helped them give big to charity and take advantage of the tax benefits, all while leaving a sizable inheritance for their daughters.

Use the Operation Eyesight Will Preparation Guide. Not sure what should be in your will or what you should consider? Check out our Will Guide to set you up for a successful conversation with your adviser.

Ask a financial adviser. Consulting a financial expert can help you ensure your donation works in your favour. You can use Will Power’s Financial Adviser Finder to match with an expert in your region.

Find out how to keep the love going. Click here to learn how a gift in your will to Operation Eyesight would be used to advance accessibility to quality eye health care in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

For more information, visit our Legacy Giving page or contact me, Alena Schock, directly at SchockA[at]operationeyesight.com or +1-587-355-1003. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Wills are a powerful tool for “being the change you want to see in the world”. Ordinary people across Canada are using their wills to become philanthropists who will inspire others to make an impact on the future. Join the movement, keep the love going and work with us to be the change you’d like to see.

Thank you for your generous and thoughtful support!  

The post More Canadians are leaving a gift to charity in their will appeared first on Operation Eyesight.

A few years ago, we were sad to say goodbye to Margaret, an incredible donor whose kindness has lasted beyond her lifetime.

Margaret started giving to Operation Eyesight back in 1964. In a letter, she told us why.

“My beloved brother, older than I by 10 years, went blind and soon after died from diabetes insipidus. I saw how hard it was for an adult who goes suddenly blind to cope in a world organized for the sighted. Not long after my brother’s death, I heard about Operation Eyesight, and missing him so much at Christmas, I decided to give what I would have spent on a gift for him to the cause of helping people regain their sight wherever possible. Ever since, I give what I can at Christmas and whenever a friend dies, and the relatives do not give a specific request for donations, I give to Operation Eyesight. The work you do is remarkable, working to preserve sight and restore it when you can.”

For years, Margaret kept Operation Eyesight in her heart, giving the Gift of Sight to people in need. Sadly, Margaret has passed away, but her impact lives on in a gift she left Operation Eyesight in her will.

Thank you, Margaret, for making our world a better place for so many people. We’re sure your brother would be proud.

If you would like to leave a gift in your will for Operation Eyesight, please get in touch with us at philanthropy@operationeyesight.com or give us a call at 403-283-6323.

The post Donor’s Generosity Helps Others – During Her Lifetime and Beyond appeared first on Operation Eyesight.