Benefactor leaves almost half a million Euro to Valencia's poorest of the poor

A committee with representatives from City Hall, the judicial system and the Church will decide who gets the money.

The poor of Valencia have been left almost half a million € by a benefactor from Paiporta, who said in his will that the money from his possessions should be shared out by City Hall amongst the 'poorest of the poor'. The value of his property is valued at 438,000 €, and a decision must now be made on who amongst the city's most deprived should receive the legacy.

El País indicates that it will be taken on the basis of Article 749 of the Civil Code, on provisions 'in favour of the poor in general'. The article has remained unchanged since the end of the 19th Century and, according to the text, the distribution of the inheritance will be decided by an executor or other person who has been designated by the person who made the will. If no such person has been named, the decision must be made in a majority vote by the parish priest, the mayor and the municipal judge.

As a municipal judge is a position which no longer exists, a Valencia First Instance judge has been named to take up that place on the committee. For the mayor, a representative has been appointed from City Hall's social welfare department, and the Archbishop of Valencia has also designated a representative. The committee is expected to meet for the first time in the near future.

El País notes another case of a man from Borbotó, on the outskirts of Valencia, who left a 200 square metre property to City Hall, on the proviso that it be converted into a health centre for people of the village. City Hall is already seeking funding for the project, and it's understood that the Generalitat has also promised to contribute.