Dilworth is the legacy and vision of one couple who have changed the lives of thousands of New Zealand boys.
Their names were James and Isabella Dilworth, and in 1894, James gifted their considerable wealth to establish a school for boys of any race and creed whose parents were experiencing “straitened circumstances”, so that they might become “good and useful members of society”.
Over a century later, their incredible legacy continues to transform boys’ lives. Beyond measure. Today, as then, we accept boys from families experiencing personal or financial hardship and offer them lifetimes of possibility through the power of an excellent education. Every year many more families and young men apply to attend Dilworth, but the capacity of the Dilworth Trust Board to do so is limited. We would like to extend this life-changing opportunity to a greater number of students if possible.
We invite Old Boys and supporters who share our commitment to the highest quality education for boys to build on the generous and far-reaching vision of our founders and leave a gift in their Will to Dilworth. If you do, you will truly help to transform boys’ lives. Thank you.
If you include Dilworth in your Will and notify us that you have done so, you qualify for membership of the James and Isabella Dilworth Circle. As a member you will receive a special certificate and be invited to selected functions with other members.
Why leave a gift in my Will to Dilworth?
If you were a Dilworth Old Boy, you were the beneficiary of an amazing gift: you received an education that many families dream about. Leaving a gift in your Will is a way to give something back to Dilworth and help the students of tomorrow have a chance to reach their full potential. Just as you did.
Perhaps you are a supporter of the Dilworth vision, appreciate the transformational gift and value of education at Dilworth, and would like to support a greater number of Dilworth students in the future. Leaving a gift in your Will is a way to ensure that you will make an invaluable contribution that has a profound impact well beyond your own life.
Dilworth Foundation Trustees
Established in 2016, The Dilworth Foundation Trustees have responsibility for ensuring the Dilworth Foundation receives and directs philanthropic support as intended. The Trustees of the Dilworth Foundation are:
· Aaron Snodgrass (also a member of the James and Isabella Dilworth Circle)
· Simon Curran (also a member of the James and Isabella Dilworth Circle)
· Brian Maltby
· Peter Alexander
· Jonathan Mason
· Frances Valintine
Enduring generosity
Other people have followed in the footsteps of James and Isabella Dilworth by providing for Dilworth in their Wills.
Anna Wynn Southern, a Dilworth mother and former President of Dilworth Family Connect. Anna passed away in January 2019 and chose to leave a gift in her Will, knowing how a Dilworth education transformed the life of her son, Jason.
Rosemary Clark, mother of Dilworth Old Boy, Conrad Libischer (Dux, Prefect, 1st XV), also supported Dilworth Family Connect during her lifetime, and left a gift in her Will so that other boys could have the same opportunity as her son.
Arthur Sydney Norman chose Dilworth as the recipient of his generosity when he left a significant gift in his Will in 2015, which was used to support the construction of the Junior Campus Sports Centre, a transformational facility that was formally opened in March 2019 by the Governor-General of New Zealand.
Having no family of her own, Earline Wright established the Ella Burford Charitable Trust to provide for tertiary scholarships and trade grant awards for Dilworth Old Boys. The Ella Burford Awards are made annually at the Dilworth Founders Day Assembly.
How do I make a bequest?
You can instruct your solicitor or professional advisor to leave a gift to the Dilworth Foundation in your Will using the following template. You may specify a particular purpose or scholarship, but we encourage you to allow the Foundation to apply your gift to the greatest needs for student support, education and care at the time, as outlined in the template below.
Or, for further information on leaving a gift in you Will to the Dilworth Foundation, please contact the Dilworth Development Office on (09) 523 3179 or email: support@dilworth.org.nz
Suggested language for a bequest to the Dilworth Foundation:
“I give and bequeath to the Dilworth Foundation, a charitable trust registered with the New Zealand Charities Commission (CC32171),
__________________ (a specific percentage) of my estate
Or _______________ (the whole or a specific percentage) of the residue of my estate
Or $ _________________ (a specific dollar amount)
Or _________________ (describe precisely an item of property, shares or assets)
free from all duties and charges, as a contribution to the Dilworth Foundation to be applied to the support, education and care of its students, for which the receipt of the Dilworth Foundation shall be sufficient discharge to my trustees.”