Our programmes do not climb the mountain for a young person. They provide the tools, opportunities and people who can help them take their own next step. With the right support, fear can become courage, self-doubt can become belief and an uncertain future can become a pathway forward.
The work must continue
I am 80. I do not have another 80 years ahead of me, and I am not going to pretend otherwise.
But the work is not finished.
There will always be another generation of young people who need someone to believe in them. The promise Jo-anne and I made cannot belong to us alone. It must be carried forward by people who share our belief in what young New Zealanders and New Zealand can become.
A Gift in your Will is one of the most powerful ways you can tell a future young person:
“I believe in you.”
“I want future young people to have opportunities.”
“I want Aotearoa to be the best place in the world to be young.”
That is what legacy means to me.
It is not simply about being remembered. It is about helping worthwhile work continue.
I have been fortunate to build on the example of people who came before me, including Sir Edmund Hillary, and the many teachers, mentors, adventurers and supporters who showed me what service to others could look like.
Sir Ed reached the highest summit in the world, then devoted much of his life to creating something useful and enduring for others. His example helped me understand that the opportunities we receive are not ours to keep.
We use them, add what we can, and pass them on.
A Gift in your Will is one way of passing that opportunity to the next generation.
Invest in New Zealand’s future
We understand the idea of putting a small percentage of our income into KiwiSaver to prepare for our own future.
Why not use the same thinking to invest in New Zealand’s future?
After providing for your family and the people closest to you, you could leave even 1% of your estate to the Graeme Dingle Foundation. Your loved ones inherit 99%, while that final 1% helps young people overcome the obstacles that could otherwise limit their future. A literal Kiwi Saver.
It could help turn fear into courage, self-doubt into belief and disengagement into a meaningful next step.
That is not just an investment in one young person. It is an investment in the future of Aotearoa.
The next part of the journey
As I have reflected on the stories in our From the Archives Series, one thing has become clear.
The mountains I climbed were the first half of my journey.
They helped me overcome my own fears, discover my potential and understand what people can achieve when they are challenged and supported.
The greater achievement has been using those lessons to help young people discover what they are capable of.
The greatest changes I have seen began because someone chose to believe in a young person.
By leaving a Gift in your Will, you can help carry that belief forward.
Together, we can move mountains for youth and help make Aotearoa the best place in the world to be young.
Take the next step
Help create an enduring legacy
Gifts in Wills support the Forever Fund, the Graeme Dingle Foundation’s endowment fund. The fund is designed to invest and grow the charitable Gifts in Wills we receive, creating a reliable source of funding to help young people realise their potential well into the future.
This means your generosity can continue supporting future generations of young New Zealanders long after your gift is received.
Learn more about leaving a Gift in your Will:
Leaving a Gift in Your Will
Explore Graeme’s stories:
From the Archives series
For the digitally inclined:
a limited number of free online Wills are available through our partner Footprint for supporters considering leaving a Gift in their Will to the Graeme Dingle Foundation.
Already have a lawyer, trust or estate plan?
Speak with your lawyer or contact Harry Silver at the Graeme Dingle Foundation for a confidential, no-obligation conversation.