Building a Better Canterbury, In Life and Beyond

Colleen Jones' decision to leave a charitable gift in her will is rooted in two things: a longstanding commitment to improving the lives of others, and a deep sense of connection to the place she has chosen as home for two decades.

Originally from the US, she says “nothing has ever felt as much like home as Christchurch has, since the very beginning.” She credits the “warm, relaxed Kiwi lifestyle”, welcoming community and “amazing career opportunities” for ultimately winning her over, though like many Cantabrians, she has also lived through some of the region’s darkest hours, witnessing time and again how local people have rallied to support each other. She says that beautiful combination of local unity and tenacity in the face of tragedy has only strengthened her desire to give back to the place that has already given her so much.

That sense of connection to people and place also runs strongly through Colleen’s professional life: as a former architectural technician, she now works in universal design and accessibility, helping building professionals make the built environment more inclusive so everyone, including the 1 in 6 disabled Kiwis, can participate in society as independently and equitably as possible.

Advocacy and removing barriers to accessibility are particularly important to Colleen, partly influenced by her mother’s experience navigating disability inequity. Throughout her career, she has "met some amazing people with disabilities, and hearing about their everyday challenges really motivates me to do what I’m doing.” She graciously adds that as she gets older, she can also relate to them more.

Giving where the need is greatest

When it came time to think about estate planning, Colleen’s intentions were clear. With no children of her own, and her partner’s children provided for by his estate, she wanted to “give back to the people who have given so much to me.” Her decision was to leave a charitable gift to the Discretionary Fund held by Kura Tāwhiti – Canterbury Community Foundation.

The Discretionary Fund is designed to give Kura Tāwhiti the flexibility to respond to changing needs across the Canterbury community. Rather than being tied to one cause, it allows the Foundation to address local funding gaps and opportunities for impact as they arise.

Directing her bequest to the Discretionary Fund made sense to Colleen personally, since it will be targeting where the greatest needs are in the community, forever. She says her previous giving has focused on specific disability groups, which is a cause that will always remain close to her heart. She accepts that her gift through the Discretionary Fund won’t necessarily target those groups specifically, but rather will continue to evolve alongside the community. “I like the idea of giving through the Foundation this way, because it targets where the greatest needs are at any moment in time. Spreading the love like that is important to me.”

Values that speak beyond your lifetime

A charitable bequest is one way to keep your values alive after you pass. For some people, that might mean supporting a particular cause or organisation, while for others, it’s giving future generations the flexibility to respond to whatever challenges lie ahead. Colleen hopes her gift may one day be a steppingstone for positive change:

“Because I haven't got the immediate family to support, this feels like the best way to use and pass on the resources that I’ve been fortunate enough to accumulate in my life. If others are looking for a way to pass on part of themselves, this might be worth considering.”

She says making her bequest through Kura Tāwhiti has been “a really easy process. Everyone has been hugely supportive; there have been plenty of opportunities for conversation and asking questions. The Foundation goes out of its way to work with people who are looking to make a decision, without any pressure.”

There is no single right way to give, and no universal "why”. But for those wondering how they can leave something meaningful behind, a charitable gift is one way to make that intention last. Colleen says, for her, “it just made sense. I can’t imagine what else I would do with the resources I have at my disposal. And I think, ‘We’re all in this together, so let’s ask how we can connect and support each other to make it better.’”

That’s ultimately what Colleen hopes her story will help others consider: beyond “what will I leave behind?” lies the more compelling question: “what kind of future do I want to help build?” 

This Wills Month, it might be worth putting the answer into writing.