John Zehmer

Water has always been a part of John Zehmer's life, so it's no surprise he chose to make a gift to CBF as part of his legacy. John grew up in Newport News, Virginia, along the James River, and after graduating from the University of Virginia, worked as an engineer at the Newport News Shipyard. He loves spending time on the water any chance he gets - having spent most of his life sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, and most recently, stand-up paddle boarding.

During a visit with CBF staff, John, with his wife Dorothy by his side, reminisced about what inspired him to invest in a charitable gift annuity with CBF. "Growing up, the grass beds in the James [River] were so dense they were like an underwater forest and crabs were plentiful. I'm devastated by the decline in the health of the local rivers and the Bay and want to do what I can to help them get better."