In1983, five men came together to address an epidemic.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome was laying waste to once perfectly healthy young men, and no one understood why. Rumours and misinformation seemed to spread as quickly as the sickness. Something had to be done.
Five men, focused on a common cause: to collect as much accurate and relevant information on AIDS and disseminate it to the public. To find answers where none seemed to exist. To support those affected by the disease, both the men whose bodies were being ravaged by this terrible plague, and those who could only stand helplessly by, losing their loved ones.
In 1983, those five men created AIDS Vancouver, Canada’s first AIDS Service Organization.
Over 30 years, much has changed. Human Immunodeficiency Virus was identified as the cause of AIDS. Patient Zero was singled out. And of those five men, two lost their battle against the very disease they fought so bravely to conquer.
30 years of remarkable loss. 30 years of remarkable progress.
Legacy
AIDS Vancouver is their legacy. AIDS Vancouver can be your legacy too.
One of the ways you can support AIDS Vancouver’s mission is to make a bequest in your will. When you choose a charity to be a future beneficiary, you want to be secure in the knowledge the organization has an enduring mission. AIDS Vancouver exists to alleviate individual and collective vulnerability to HIV and AIDS through support, public education and community based research.
As the first AIDS Service Organization in Canada, AIDS Vancouver has been on the forefront of creating awareness and sharing information for over 30 years, in addition to providing invaluable support and services to people living with HIV and AIDS. Knowing AIDS Vancouver’s history and its commitment to the future provides the security that people are looking for when considering how to direct the future of their finances.
When someone passes away, there is often a large amount of payable tax, due to such things as RRSPs or capital gains. In such instances, a bequest to AIDS Vancouver is a tax-deductible donation that reduces the tax payable by your estate.
During our lives, individuals cannot use charitable donations to reduce their net income to zero. After someone passes away however, charitable donations can be used to reduce their net income to zero, and a tax credit for excess donations can be carried back one year. This can result in additional tax savings, as well as reduced stress and expense for those looking after your estate.
Your tax preparer or accountant can provide more information on how this could be of benefit to you and your loved ones.
Some of the ways you leave a lasting legacy while supporting AIDS Vancouver’s mission are:
- You can leave a bequest of a specific amount to AIDS Vancouver in your will while leaving the remainder of your estate to your partner, other family members or friends.
- If your partner is your primary concern, you can leave your estate to your partner while designating AIDS Vancouver as the beneficiary in the event your partner predeceases you. You can combine this with the first option above.
- You can name AIDS Vancouver as a beneficiary of your RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) or RRIF (Registered Retirement Income Fund). Your estate will receive a charitable tax receipt for the value of the gift AIDS Vancouver receives. This reduces any tax payable by your estate.
Make It Legal
It is important to use AIDS Vancouver’s legal name when making a bequest in your Will, or naming the AIDS Vancouver as a beneficiary of your RRSP. Our legal name is Vancouver AIDS Society, and our charitable number is 10668 9896 RR0001
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