Include a gift in your will

For children like Jenny* , disadvantage at home leads to difficulties at school. They start their education without the early literacy and numeracy skills of their classmates. They are behind before they even begin. Since 1922, The Smith Family has been dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged Australian children. In the last 30 years we’ve focused on educational programs to help children make the most of their school years.

Research proves that supporting a disadvantaged child’s education is a powerful way to make lasting change. Last year we supported more than 124,000 Australian children in need and their families through our programs. Sadly, for every child we can help, there are thousands more who need our help.

When mum and dad told us, about 10 years ago, that they were including The Smith Family in their Will, it wasn’t a shock at all. It actually felt good to know that they were A family commitment Geoff and Julie Winders speak about their parents’ legacy backing up their passion for helping others. They had been donating to The Smith Family for as long as we could remember and it seemed like a natural progression of their giving.

It’s wonderful to think that their gift is now helping so many deserving students to get the most out of their education.

Whether it’s helping to pay for school outings or text books, football boots or even school uniforms, it’s so good for us to know that mum and dad’s legacy is living on and they are continuing to provide disadvantaged Australian children with the opportunities they need to help them thrive at school and into the future.

In fact, knowing that mum and dad had left a gift in their Will to charity has been a really good lesson for our families and we have decided that we would like to do the same.”

The Smith Family is dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty for disadvantaged children and helping them onto the path of achievement. Through our Learning for Life programs we provide educational support to the children who need it most. Children like Jenny have proven that with extra reading support, homework help and a guiding hand, they can thrive. That’s what Learning for Life provides. But you can also help. Please give disadvantaged Australian students the out-of-school support they need to make the most of their education.

Today, you can change their future.

Year after year we see our learning support programs change lives, helping young Australians to break the cycle of disadvantage. Your legacy will ensure that future generations of Australian children have access to the support they need to get the most out of their education.

Whether this means staying in school until Year 12, taking up an apprenticeship, attending TAFE or university, you’re helping young Australians to make the most of their education – so they can create a better economic future for themselves and their families.

You’re not just helping one child today, you’re joining with The Smith Family and other like-minded individuals to make a difference to a whole generation of Australian children.

"When I first met Jenny, she was eight years old, it was clear she was desperate to learn. She wanted to answer the questions her teacher asked her. She wanted to fit in.

The problem was simple: she couldn’t.

In class, she couldn’t read very well and often she wasn’t even sure if she understood what she was supposed to do. She’d just sit in class silently, trying to avoid being asked questions. Jenny built a wall around herself, retreating from classmates and falling further and further behind at school.

Unfortunately, Jenny’s story isn’t unique.

When Jenny started in our Learning for Life program, I was able to give Jenny and her family the extra support they needed. She was dedicated and keen.

With each hurdle she overcame, her confidence grew, and now, she may not be top of the class, but she’s right up there – answering questions and feeling confident in her abilities. This is where real change begins.

I see her beginning to enjoy school and I know she will reach her full potential.”

“I’m a school teacher and I’ve worked with children from all kinds of backgrounds. When I became a teacher at our local school I started to become aware of the need for further help in education for disadvantaged students. The need for focused attention is especially evident when you have children who’ve had setbacks and struggles in their life – whether through immigration or growing up in poor families. These kids don’t have the confidence in their own abilities, that they’re in the right place and that people will help them. Coming from behind, feeling different and out of place – to feeling empowered, is a very difficult leap to make."

"I’m completely confident in The Smith Family’s commitment to education. We’ve had experience with lots of charities, and we really feel the money is well accounted for and will be well spent with The Smith Family – they’re a really efficient organisation. School is where children can build their future. We want to give the next generation a go. We want to help the ones who just don’t have the economic and social support to cope with the demands of education on their own.”