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A Young Surfer Leaves the Legacy of a Healthy Ocean
By Kim Novick
In 1999, at Hanalei Bay, Kauai, a young surfer, environmentalist and beach
lover died while swimming in front of his home in Kauai. This vibrant individual
spent his life in the ocean and upon his death, left a living gift that would
continue to work and save the very ocean he loved. His name was Kevin McLaughlin
(1970 Ð 1999), and he will be remembered as a generous spirit who in his
death left the legacy of a healthier ocean through a planned gift.
 Kevin
was passionate about surfing and the ocean and he was deeply committed to
protecting it. Though most 29 year-olds do not think about end of life issues,
such as making out a will, Kevin was thoughtful beyond his years. In his
will, Kevin left a substantial portion of his estate to the Surfrider Foundation.
To date, the money that Kevin left to Surfrider Foundation through his charitable
bequest, has produced our Sea to Summit video and printed education materials
that are now in thousands of classrooms across the country as part of our
Respect the Beach program. Kevin's story has inspired countless individuals,
and through his own giving, he has taught the Surfrider Foundation community
about the culture of giving and the opportunity to make a planned gift.
In our June, 2001 issue of Making Waves, Chris Evans wrote about Kevin's
"pre-go-out-one-liner" where he would say, "I'm going to go out in the water
and be humbled now."
Kevin's legacy and the bequest he left to Surfrider is one that we can safely
say is not only an inspiration, but humbling to us all.
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