Blue Zones Boards Fund Established By 2025 First Flight High School Valedictorian

By Steve Hanf

Countless families escape the hustle and bustle of the Outer Banks in search of perfect waves all over the world.

Growing up, Emerson Mann enjoyed several trips to picturesque Playa Guiones in Costa Rica. He loved the clear, warm water of the Pacific. The sunset over the ocean. The open vistas of beach and jungle without houses everywhere.

And, of course, those waves.

“It’s always clean. It’s always above four feet,” Emerson says. “So for us, coming from the Outer Banks where it’s Lake Atlantic out there in July, it’s amazing, and it’s always so beautiful.”

Yet, as Emerson got older, he couldn’t help but notice something else. Most of the people surfing Playa Guiones were like him – vacationers. Given that Emerson and his friends surfed together all the time on the Outer Banks, that didn’t make sense.

“My uncle has a friend down there who has a surf shop, a local guy who grew up down there, and I asked him, ‘Why are there no local kids out here? Why aren’t there any little kids surfing?’” Emerson recalls. “And he’s like, ‘They can’t afford the boards, and there’s not enough supply down here.’”

While your average 17-year-old may have pondered that for a moment, deemed it a bummer … and then moved on to dinner plans and the next day’s surf forecast, that’s not how Emerson operates. The wheels started turning, and…

“I was like, ‘Shoot, we could totally set that up!’ ”

And that’s how, before he graduated as the valedictorian from First Flight High School and picked his freshman year classes at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Emerson Mann found himself as the leader of perhaps the most unique fund ever established through the Outer Banks Community Foundation (OBCF).

The Blue Zones Boards Fund aims to put surfboards in the hands of kids in places like Costa Rica – and beyond, as the project grows – so it’s not just tourists riding the waves.

“These kids should be surfing out here and loving their country as much as all these tourists do,” Emerson says.

Initially, Emerson thought he might be able to hand out some of the extra boards he and his family had collected over the years. Beach gear, after all, has a way of multiplying, with older models languishing in garages.

After fixing up a few dings and getting a new board bag, Emerson was able to take four boards with him on the family’s most recent trip, and the owner of the surf shop found local kids who were perfect candidates for the surprise gifts. His dad, Dr. Chris Mann, was able to handle the translation.

“I have a little bit of Spanish in my bag – nothing crazy – but my dad’s fluent and he was talking with the kids and they just had huge smiles on their faces,” Emerson recalls. “They were just super grateful that someone had done this for them, and I took it as an honor. I knew it would mean something, but not that much. It was amazing and I want it to grow to where I can give surfboards to hundreds of kids.”

To reach that goal, Emerson met with OBCF President and CEO Chris Sawin about establishing a new fund. Emerson was surprised to discover how easy it was to start a fund, even as a teenager.

“What stands out about Emerson is his combination of empathy, initiative, and follow-through. He saw a need, envisioned a solution, and put in the work to make it happen,” said Sawin. “That kind of determination and generosity is exactly what turns a good idea into lasting impact.”

While his mom, Dr. Christina Bowen, split the initial deposit with him, Emerson has been working hard this summer as a lifeguard with Duck Surf Rescue to earn money for The Blue Zones Boards Fund as well as the impending school year. Currently, Emerson plans to major in Biomedical Engineering at UNC and minor in Finance – with an eye toward studying abroad in a few years and taking another trip with multiple surfboards.

“Eventually I want to grow it into a nonprofit so I can get many organizations to work with me, and I can get down there for long periods of time where I can take all the kids out surfing together,” Emerson says. “That would be a great experience. And then not just stay in Costa Rica, but reach out to multiple countries.”

It’s a laudable goal, and proof that age is only a number in so many aspects of life. OBCF currently manages over 200 diverse charitable funds that help countless folks in countless ways, so Sawin was only too happy to help Emerson catch the charitable wave with Blue Zones Boards.

“I’m excited to see how this fund can expand and benefit even more communities in the years ahead,” said Sawin.

It has never been easier for you to make a real impact in our community! At the Outer Banks Community Foundation, there are countless ways to get involved in philanthropy, and one of the simplest and most effective is by creating a donor-advised fund. Start your journey today and make a lasting difference in the lives of those around us.

About the Outer Banks Community Foundation: The Outer Banks Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to fostering philanthropy and supporting local causes. Through its charitable funds and grant programs, the Foundation strives to enrich the quality of life for residents of the Outer Banks.