For decades now, Global Mission Partners has been blessed by support from the EB Charitable Trust, founded by William Edward and Eileen Maude Blackeby. This year as the trust closes, we are so thankful to be among the charities chosen to receive a generous and life-changing donation.

This gift will make a huge impact on many of our projects. Khayelihle Children’s Village (KCV) will be able to improve facilities, perform maintenance and buy new equipment. IMA will have more money to invest in new initiatives. COCOA can give more support to the areas that desperately need it the most.

William and Eileen’s daughter Anne (who worked with GMP for many years!) shared with us about her parent’s, and especially her father’s history of faithful support.

“Our father was a very humble and generous man,” Anne tells us. “As far as we know he regularly supported at least 27 charities plus gave donations to churches, schools and individuals. Most of dad’s donations were given anonymously. That is why the trust name didn’t include “Blackeby” and was called “The EB Trust”.

William Edward Blackeby was born in 1909 to William Augustus Blackeby and Agnes Maude Blackeby. His father William Augustus, was a confectioner, making sweets from a factory in Adelaide and then selling his products in the Adelaide Central Market from 1906.

“When our father, William Edward (known as Bill) left school at the age of 15, he went to work for his father,” Anne says. “The business later became W A Blackeby & Son. Prior to our grandfather’s retirement he wrote to our father and mother, Eileen Maude Blackeby, offering the business to them.”

“In this letter he wrote, ‘I do not want you to do anything in business, just because your father did it, either in the way of donations or overweight sweets. I only want you to be upright and honest before God and man. Talk to God about your business, ask Him to manage it for you, as I have always done and He has never failed me. I have no fear that you will not know the same.’

“One day in 1981 when we children were together, our father said that he had helped us during our lives and as we were all reasonably well off, he intended to set up a Trust to give money to charities. As a Christian, he had a heart for people especially for children, disadvantaged and those experiencing difficulties.”

“After our father’s death in 1997, we his children as Directors and Trustees of The Trust, have always endeavoured to honour his heart and intent for the distribution of the gifts. We have been blessed to be a blessing in enabling dad’s legacy to continue to help others.”

The EB Charitable Trust had a maximum of 40 years, and as such it is closing this year. Please join us in thanking Anne, Graham, Paul, Peter and Roger Blackeby for their dedicated work as Trustees to see out their parent’s legacy. A legacy of love and compassion for people who truly need it. We are blessed to be able to celebrate the legacy of William and Eileen Blackeby by continuing the work they were so passionate about supporting.

If you would like to leave behind a legacy of love and compassion, please contact us (email info@gmp.org.au, visit www.gmp.org.au/get-involved/leave-a-bequest or ring 1800 467 222) to talk about how you can make a bequest part of your will.