How would you like to be remembered? Leaving a gift in your Will to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ creates a powerful legacy that reflects your life, values and experiences.
Kiwi eye surgeon Fred Hollows’ dream was a world where no one is needlessly blind or vision impaired. He championed the right of all people to high-quality and affordable eye care. A gift to The Foundation in your Will helps keep Fred’s dream alive.
Fred left an incredible legacy through the work of The Foundation in Australia and New Zealand.
As of 2025, in the Pacific:
Your legacy will live on through the people whose lives have been transformed by having their sight restored.
Write your Will online for FREE thanks to our partners, Safewill and Footprint.
By leaving a gift in your Will to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, you can make Fred’s legacy, your legacy, and help restore sight across the Pacific for generations to come.
By pledging a gift in your Will, you will help change the lives of not only people who are blind, but their family members, too. To lose your sight is devastating, and for every person who is needlessly blind there is often someone else selflessly giving up their livelihood to help care for them. Your support means more people can return to work or school, so they can build a better future for themselves, their families, and their community.
Join us today, and create a legacy with vision.
After a lifetime wearing glasses, Alison treasures the gift of sight. “I’ve been a doctor for 40 years; there’s no way I could have done the job I love without adequate vision.”
Her partner, Richard, had a serious eye injury at six years old, which made him value his eyesight and helped him decide to support The Foundation.
“We will be leaving money in our Will so we can help The Foundation continue the fantastic work once we’ve gone.”
Carole has supported The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ for many years because she believes in practical change that makes a real difference. One moment has stayed with her ever since she visited a small village clinic and watched cataract bandages come off.
“It was instant. Life-changing. I’ve never forgotten it.”
Carole decided to leave a gift in her Will because she wants her support to continue helping Pacific communities into the future through restoring sight and training local doctors and nurses.
“If I can help give someone the gift of sight — even after I’m gone — that seems a very worthwhile thing to do.”
Pat first met Fred Hollows more than 50 years ago while spending time together in the mountains. “Fred was a great companion,” he recalls. “A bit of a rogue at times, but incredibly driven and always full of ideas.”
What stayed with Pat was the way Fred approached problems — practical, determined, and focused on creating lasting change. “Fred believed in helping people help themselves. Not just stepping in and leaving again but building something that would last.”
That’s why Pat has chosen to leave a gift in his Will to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ — continuing something he believes in and supporting work that creates lasting change for communities.
“In a small way, it means I can be part of that. And that feels like something worth doing.”
After 40 years in nursing, Catherine has seen how unequal access to healthcare can shape people’s lives, and how easily people can miss out when care isn’t available at the right time.
Hearing Fred Hollows speak left a lasting impression. “Fred was action orientated. He wasn’t just talking about change — he was going to make it happen.”
Catherine has chosen to leave a gift in her Will to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ, supporting its work to reduce inequalities and train local eye care teams.
“By leaving a gift, I know I can still make a difference — helping bring sight to communities long into the future.”
Rae has admired the work of The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ for many years and is particularly impressed by The Foundation’s commitment to training. She is therefore glad to leave a gift in her Will.
“The decision to leave money was not a hard one. Giving the gift of sight is everything.”
Fay followed Fred’s progress and his incredible work. She was inspired to support The Foundation when she heard Fred’s wife Gabi talk about our important sight-saving work.
Fay contributed towards the upgrade of the National Eye Centre in Vanuatu. She travelled all the way to Vanuatu to witness the opening. We caught up with Fay and asked her to talk about her thoughts on The Foundation and why she has chosen to leave a gift to us in her Will.
He previously lived in Australia, where he also followed Fred’s work and was impressed by his moral integrity. “He was a good man,” says Mike. “He wanted to do what’s right for humanity. He dedicated his life to trying to help mankind – and I can go with that.”
Mike wanted to ensure that when he passes away his money goes towards organisations he supports, so he’s made a gift in his Will to The Foundation.
“I’m sure The Foundation will know exactly what to do with the money,” he says. “Giving the gift of sight means helping people make it through life. And it’s my duty as a human being to help others who are less fortunate.”
Elizabeth’s father served in the Pacific during World War II, and on the 50th anniversary of his landing on Mono Island in Solomon Islands, she had the chance to visit.
“One man I had the great pleasure of meeting was known as ‘Doc John’, who, to his great dismay, was no longer able to read his Bible as his sight had deteriorated,” she explains.
“I learned a lot on that trip about Solomon Islands and other Pacific islands in the region. It made me very aware of how remote they are. When I found out The Foundation helped in those places, I really wanted to join in and encourage others.”
Elizabeth is pleased that a gift in her Will can make a difference. “To know that people like ‘Doc John’ can get the care they need, from their own trained people, is a dream.”
“Having been born with poor eyesight, I have worn glasses since I was nine years old,’ explains Glenis. “I will never forget the day I put my glasses on for the first time and was amazed, astonished, overwhelmed by what I could see. I want others to have that same feeling.”
Glenis is impressed by The Foundation’s focus on training. “The education and training The Fred Hollows Foundation provides is fantastic,” she says. “Without The Foundation working in the Pacific community, I think there would be no opportunity for people to regain their eyesight.”
“I think very highly of Fred Hollows, who gave his life to helping others. I feel The Foundation carries on his important work. I have no kids and I want what I have accumulated in my life to go to a worthy cause … so I picked The Fred Hollows Foundation.”
“I was impressed with Fred Hollows,” explains Craig, “the way he helped give sight back to people. Especially people in the Pacific, where people have deeper problems with their sight.”
“I was updating my Will recently and decided to leave a gift in my Will to The Foundation because it feels right to do it – it was a no-brainer!” he says.
Ready to leave a gift in your Will?
If you would like to know more about leaving a gift in your Will, download our brochure.
Share your legacy
If you would like to tell your story and let your life’s wishes be known, download our Legacy Toolkit.
Your legacy in action
Want to know how your gift will be used by The Foundation? Find out here.
Remembering The Foundation in your Will is a very personal decision and one that carries great hope. It’s an act that expresses what you believe in, and one that will help us work towards a world where no one is needlessly blind or vision impaired.
We are proud to have partnered with leading online Will providers, Safewill, Footprint, and EveryWill. We encourage you to have a look at both and see what is the best for you, and your family’s needs.
We are proud to partner with Safewill to offer our wonderful supporters the opportunity to write a bespoke Will for 50% off (normally $160). Look out for free Wills week too.
Every Will is checked by a lawyer to make sure it has been completed correctly and it takes less than 20 minutes using the step-by-step guide.
Footprint is New Zealand’s largest provider of online Wills, making it easy for you to put a legally valid Will in place in as little as 15 minutes.
They offer our supporters the opportunity to get a free one off standalone online Will, anytime. Their platform was built by lawyers and is solicitor-approved, with all Wills reviewed by a professional Will drafter.
EveryWill are offering their online Will services to our supporters, completely free of charge.
In less than 10 minutes, you can write your Will from the comfort of your home, with free and unlimited updates for life.
Last year, more than 15,000 Wills were written via the EveryWill platform.
A residuary estate gift is a percentage of your estate (everything you own) once all debts, funeral expenses and cash legacies have been paid.
Leaving a residuary gift to a charity will ensure that your family and loved ones are looked after first. By leaving this type of gift you won’t have to worry if your circumstances change. The benefit of a residuary gift is that it is less likely to need updating over time and the value of your gift won’t be affected by inflation.
Suggested wording:
“I give the residue (or % share of the residue) of my estate to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ (registered charity number CC23722), for its general purpose, and I declare that a receipt given by the Treasurer or other proper officer of the Foundation shall be an absolute discharge to my Trustees.”
A pecuniary gift is a fixed sum of money left to a person or organisation in a Will. It does not fluctuate with changes in the value of your estate.
This type of gift is straightforward and allows you to specify an exact amount that you wish to leave. However, it’s important to note that over time, inflation may reduce the real value of the gift unless your Will is updated.
Suggested wording:
“I give to The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ (registered charity number CC23722), for its general purposes, the sum of (insert Amount) and I declare that a receipt given by the Treasurer or other proper officer of the Foundation shall be an absolute discharge to my Trustees.”
The Fred Hollows Foundation NZ is a registered charitable trust – registration AK/566925.
The Foundation is registered with the Charities Commission – registration number CC23722.
For more information on wording or to leave a gift in your Will, please contact us for a no-obligation chat.
Contact Karen Blake, Relationship Manager
