An unexpected surprise: a legacy from a Will
We’re trying to ensure the future of our work for local people here in Battersea. This includes our long term financial viability. Our fundraising approach, like our everyday community work, is to build really fantastic relationships with people. For them to value the difference we’re making to the lives of local people, and therefore to support our work long-term. One significant way of doing this can be to leave a gift in your Will.
Only rarely do we receive a gift from a legacy, mainly because we’ve never really asked anyone. But that is going to change. Our last legacy was back in early 2016. Here’s what happened.
“Aaron, our CEO, had an unexpected surprise yesterday – a call out of the blue from Jon Dunkelman to say that his mother (Margaret) and father (Freddie) had bequeathed a legacy to KLS in their Will. Freddie died in 2010 at the ripe old age of 90 and Margaret died last May (2015) aged 91.
Why us? Well they both lived in Battersea back in 1940s, knew about the work we did with the local community, and wanted to leave us something from their estate. Here’s what I’ve found out about them.
They started Dunkelman & Son (known later throughout the trade as DASCO “the shoe care specialists”), in a small workshop in Battersea in 1946. Initially making ice hockey sticks. Freddie was a professional ice hockey player at that time and went on to represent England at the 1948 St Moritz Winter Olympic Games. The team finished fifth in the tournament. He also played for the Harringay Greyhounds. He subsequently set up a sports shop in Falcon Road.
In 1950 he spotted an opportunity for the company to take its first step into shoe care. By the late 50’s this had become Dunkelman’s core business. For many years Freddie was a prominent member of the Battersea Rotary Club. In 1969 Freddie was instrumental in moving the business from London into a new purpose built factory and warehouse in Desborough, Northants, where they are based today.
Leaving a gift in your Will to Katherine Low Settlement’s does make a lasting difference to the people and communities we work with in Battersea and Wandsworth. So when you make or update your Will, please consider including a gift to KLS. Alternatively, you can make a gift by adding a codicil to your existing Will.
We are grateful for every gift we receive, no matter how big or small. Your gift ensures your legacy will live on into the future, supporting more children, families and older people in Battersea. So a very big thank you to Margaret and Freddie Dunkelman for your generous support.”
If KLS has touched your life, or someone you care about, then please consider leaving us a gift in your Will.
By remembering KLS in this way, you’re ensuring that our work lives on.
Thank you so much.
We’re here to help
There’s more practical information on our website here and a very useful step-by-step guide on how to write a Will on the Remember a Charity website here.
And do contact Aaron, our CEO, on 020 7223 2845 and [email protected] if you’d like a chat.
Freddie Dunkelman (second from left) with his family