An anonymous legacy gift left in a will is set to build new homes in Limerick

Anonymous legacy gift – The gift was left to the Community Foundation for Ireland and will benefit both the Peter McVerry Trust and Threshold who will jointly receive the funds. Pictured above is Denise Charlton, Executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland

The gift was left to the Community Foundation for Ireland and will benefit both the Peter McVerry Trust and Threshold who will jointly receive the funds

By I Love Limerick correspondent Ava O’Donoghue

Over 100 people in Limerick and Galway will benefit from a €1.5m anonymous legacy gift left in will.

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A legacy gift is a planned future gift that designates some part of one’s estate as a donation to a non-profit.

In Ireland, legacy gifts to charities remain quite low amounting to only 6% of charitable giving which emphasizes the scale of and generosity of this incredible gift.

The gift was left to the Community Foundation for Ireland and will benefit both the Peter McVerry Trust and Threshold who will jointly receive the funds.

The Community Foundation for Ireland has worked with individuals, families, and corporates for over 21 years to help donors to turn their gifts into something strategic, sustainable, and impactful.

The Community Foundation for Ireland hopes that this gift can spark action in the government to grow on this type of giving and honour a National Policy on Philanthropy.

“This donation highlights what philanthropy can achieve and contribute,” Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Ireland commented.

She continued, saying that, “philanthropic giving is different in that as well as responding to an immediate need but also has a longer-term view with a focus on solutions.”

As a result of the donation, national housing and homeless charity dedicated to reducing homelessness The Peter McVerry Trust will use its gift to outfit 14 modular units in Moyross and a further 32 units will be outfitted across Galway.

The outfitting will provide fully furnished units and supports to allow people to settle into their new accommodation.

Under its Housing First Initiative, The McVerry trust has tenancy sustainment of 86% for tenants who move into their homes.

The gift will allow the McVerry Trust to continue to expand its housing projects and provide homes to individuals and families.  

Threshold, an advocacy service for people at risk of homelessness our housing problems will also benefit from the legacy gift.

The support will allow Threshold to undertake several initiatives, such as opening a new housing advice centre in Limerick.

Threshold also hopes to work towards placing the right to housing in the constitution, introducing a deposit protection scheme and as well as increased security of tenure for private tenants, all of which can be possible thanks to the gift.

“Thank you to Community Foundation for Ireland, Denise Charlton and the incredibly generous donor for this transformational legacy donation,” John-Mark McCafferty, Threshold Ireland CEO commented on the gift.

“This donation will make a real and lasting difference to people and families at risk of homelessness across the country,”

“It will make a profound difference to Threshold and the 50,000 people who request our help annually,”

“This would simply not have been possible without the support we received from the Community Foundation of Ireland and this donor. As a result, we will be equipped to deal with and respond to a housing crisis, unlike anything we’ve seen before.” He continued.

Denise commented on their partnership with Threshold, saying it will increase the protection of tenants saying, “Our donor is supporting initiatives with Threshold which have the potential to change the housing debate in Ireland forever.”

“What a wonderful legacy for the donor – 100 people lifted out of homelessness! Wow! Thinking of that very kind person today,” My Legacy Ireland shared their thoughts on the incredible gift. 

For more stories on charity, go HERE 

For more information on the Community Foundation for Ireland, go HERE