A Lasting Legacy for the Environment

Steve Johnson first heard about ELAW 20 years ago, when it was just an idea being batted around a dinner table.  He was very involved in community environmental issues, and he agreed that the more we share lessons from around the world, the better it is for the environment.

A few years later, when he was meeting with an attorney to draft his will, he decided that ELAW would be one of the beneficiaries.  Steve doesn’t have children, so it seemed natural to him to figure out what good he could do with the money that he would be leaving behind.  Steve decided he would choose just two charities so that it would not dilute the impact of his gift.  He knew that his estate would be enough that an organization the size of ELAW could do something significant with the bequest.  He drafted his will to leave half his estate to ELAW and half to the University of Oregon libraries for special projects.

Steve’s oldest living relative will celebrate his 103rd birthday this summer, and all his grandparents lived well into their 90s.  Steve is just past 60 years old – with his longevity genes and his healthy lifestyle (Steve is a world-class master’s swimmer) he should be around for a few more decades.  But, he says, “I knew I needed a will.  I didn’t want the State to determine what would happen to my estate, which is what would happen by default if I didn’t make my own.”

We are thrilled with Steve’s decision to include ELAW in his will.  “I’d recommend it to anybody,” Steve said. “It is an easy way to ensure that you have a lasting legacy.”