An inner-Melbourne charity will be gifted an estimated $2.8 million in a real-life tale of practising what you preach, The Age reports.
Academic Christopher Baker lectured in philanthropy and even wrote his PhD on structured giving in wills.
Inner North Community Foundation chair Carolyn Phiddian inside 11 Rose Street, Brunswick. Money from the sale of the property will fund community grants.
He and partner Kerri Hall arranged for part of their estate – including their superannuation and proceeds of the sale of their 1920s Californian bungalow – to support the Inner North Community Foundation.
Dr Baker, who died last year, was a lecturer at Swinburne University. Ms Hall, who died in 2017, was a librarian at the State Library of Victoria.
The couple’s gift will fund community grants worth an estimated $100,000 each year.
Ms Hall’s niece, Amanda Marshman, who lived with them from 2009 to 2012, said Dr Baker and Ms Hall, who had no children, put other people’s needs before theirs.
“They felt that everyone deserves the opportunity of education or a better lifestyle,” Ms Marshman said.
“To know that the money from the house is going towards helping better other people’s lives, I think it’s absolutely fantastic.
The bequest is the biggest single donation from individuals to the foundation.
FULL STORY
Their legacy is living on’: Brunswick couple leaves estimated $2.8m to charity (The Age)
PHOTO
Kerri Hall and Christopher Baker in Rome in 2012.